CINCINNATI (WKRC) – The Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a minor league contract with first baseman Nathaniel Lowe that includes an invitation to major league spring training as a non-roster invitee, per Mark Feinsand and Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.
Lowe, 30, is coming off a down season in which he hit .228 with a .307 on-base percentage and .381 slugging percentage, along with 18 home runs and 62 RBI in 153 games split between the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox.
Cincinnati is banking on Lowe’s production from 2021-24 with the Texas Rangers, when he hit a combined .274/.359/.432 with 78 home runs. During his time in Texas, Lowe, who hits from the left side, won a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger Award and a World Series title in 2023.
For his career, Lowe has hit .264 with 107 home runs and a .771 OPS in 839 games over seven seasons.
Lowe will compete for playing time at first base, where top prospect Sal Stewart is considered the early favorite but has only 18 major league games of experience. Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Spencer Steer are also options, with Steer capable of playing multiple positions.
There could also be opportunities at designated hitter, though Eugenio Suárez is expected to handle most of those at-bats in 2026.