The Tampa Bay Rays will be going up against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and they’ll see a familiar face on the other side. Brandon Lowe, who had been with the Rays for eight seasons, is now with the Pirates, and he’s lighting it up for them to start the season.
One person who isn’t startled by his strong play so far is manager Kevin Cash.
“I’m not surprised by the start,” Cash said via Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. “We saw it for (eight) years, what he’s capable of doing, It’ll be very good to see him. That team has played very, very well, but certainly with Brandon, he holds a pretty special place in a lot of people’s minds here in this organization, helped us win a lot of ballgames.”
So far this season, Lowe is hitting .262 with seven homers, 16 RBIs and a .992 OPS.
It may have been a surprise how Lowe’s situation turned out during the offseason. The Rays picked up his $11.5 million option, and six weeks later, traded him to the Pirates with outfielder Jake Mangum and reliever Mason Montgomery.
The Rays already saw Lowe during. spring training, and even then, it was weird seeing him in another jersey.
“In spring training it was weird, but I’m happy for him and all the success he’s continued to have,” lefty Shane McClanahan said. “I created a good friendship with him, and I’m excited to see him.”
With the Rays, Lowe was among the franchise leaders in homers, runs, extra-base hits and doubles. He also played in 745 games, which was the eighth most in franchise history.
The Tampa Bay Rays will be going up against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and they’ll see a familiar face on the other side. Brandon Lowe, who had been with the Rays for eight seasons, is now with the Pirates, and he’s lighting it up for them to start the season. One person who isn’t startled by his strong play so far is manager Kevin Cash.