Cincinnati Reds pitcher Rhett Lowder, who has missed all season with a sequence of injuries, had his last, long-shot chance to return this season ended with a recent setback.
After his last minor-league rehab start, Lowder – who more recently had been working back from an oblique injury – experienced discomfort in his shoulder during his between-starts recovery, manager Terry Francona said.
Rhett Lowder suffered a setback that will keep him from appearing with the Reds at all this season after posting a 1.17 ERA in six starts last season.
Lowder, the 2023 No. 7 overall draft pick who made an eye-popping six-start debut (1.17 ERA) last year, underwent an MRI this week that showed no structural damage.
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“Everything was structurally really good. But we’ve got to slow him down,” Francona said.
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Lowder is to return to Louisville and prepare to start his build-up program again.
“Where that goes, and when that goes, I don’t know if anybody knows,” Francona said.
Lowder had been scheduled for a rehab start Sept. 19 before the setback, with the organization targeting the Arizona Fall League for some regular innings – but keeping the slim chance of a return during the season as a carrot on the stick.
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“That gives you some hope, every day, trying to push for it,” Lowder said a few weeks ago when he spent time around the team during their series in Arizona. “And obviously, I’m going to do everything in my power to be ready if that’s what happens.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Rhett Lowder’s hope of 2025 return to Cincinnati Reds ends on setback