Brandon Lowe has been as good as the Pittsburgh Pirates could’ve asked for in his first season with the team.
Over 148 games this season, the 32-year-old is slashing .262/.332/.493 with 34 home runs and 95 RBI. Lowe leads all MLB second basemen in home runs, RBI, slugging percentage, and OPS (.825).
Beyond his stellar offensive campaign, Lowe has gone from one of baseball’s worst defenders in 2025 to one of its best a year later. His -14 Outs Above Average with the Tampa Bay Rays last season was tied for the worst mark among qualified MLB fielders.
But fast-forward to 2026, and Lowe looks like those 2025 defensive struggles never happened. His Outs Above Average mark has flipped from -14 to +14, which ranks in the 98th percentile in the majors and second among all second basemen. Only St. Louis Cardinals‘ rookie JJ Wetherholt has a higher Outs Above Average at the position (+24).
Lowe will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. A major offseason priority for the Pirates should be doing everything they can to bring him back. Calls for a contract extension for Lowe have already been made.
Ryan O’Hearn, Konnor Griffin Among Players Who Want Brandon Lowe Back Next Year
Fellow offseason acquisition Ryan O’Hearn was very blunt when asked if he wanted Lowe back in Pittsburgh beyond 2026.
“Are you asking me if I would love to have a guy that hits 30-plus [homers] and probably 100 RBIs, that plays Gold Glove second base, and is a stud in the clubhouse?” O’Hearn said. “Yeah, I would love to have that guy back.”