In Season Addition Bringing Much Needed Experience To Red Sox

When the Washington Nationals cut Nathaniel Lowe, the Boston Red Sox were chomping at the bit to sign him as a free agent. After the injury to Triston Casas, Boston was left a man short at first base, turning to Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro as they looked for another solution.

Fortunately for the Red Sox, Lowe became available in August, and they signed him almost immediately. With the Nationals, he slashed just .216/.292/.373. His sample with the Red Sox is much smaller at only 26 games, but his numbers are much improved. He’s slashing .267/.371/.413 with Boston.

“Getting cut was not in my personal plan. Putting together that slash line there was not really in my personal plan,” Lowe told Robbie Hyde.

With the Nationals, Lowe was asked to play nearly every day regardless of the matchup. He played in 108 of 120 games, despite hitting righties much better than lefties. Since joining the Red Sox, he’s been in more of a platoon role, starting against right-handed pitchers while coming off the bench when southpaws start.

He has experience as well. Lowe was instrumental to the Texas Rangers’ 2023 World Series victory. He hit .262 with 17 home runs in the regular season, and hit three postseason home runs. He also played excellent defense, winning the American League Gold Glove at first base that season. In a young clubhouse, his experience is invaluable.

“It never gets easier, but it gets more simple. Having that experience adds to the simplicity of like, we have one job to do today, and that’s win today. We can’t watch the scoreboard and hope for something to happen elsewhere. We only have to go out and play our best tonight,” Lowe said.

The Red Sox beat the Rays, 6-3 on Saturday. They currently hold the second Wild Card spot, but several teams are bunched up in the standings and things could change in an instant. Boston finishes the series with the Rays on Sunday night.