TAMPA \u2014 There have been a lot of reasons suggested for why Brandon Lowe has had a sustained stretch of success at the plate, one that \u2014 not coincidentally \u2014lines up with the Rays\u2019 month-plus run as the majors\u2019 best team.<\/p>\n
Lowe offered a magnanimous answer, suggesting it\u2019s a product of the hitters around him \u2014 with Josh Lowe often batting leadoff, followed by some combination of Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero \u2014 putting him in a better spot to be productive.<\/p>\n
Related, manager Kevin Cash pointed out, has the been the production from the bottom of the order, giving Brandon Lowe increased opportunity to knock in runs.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s some benefit from Lowe\u2019s change in bats after a slow start \u2014 ditching the 33 \u00bd-inch, 30-ounce Louisville Slugger model he adopted in spring training to return to his old reliable Old Hickory brand \u2014 though not too much, as he notes it still has to be swung properly.<\/p>\n
And good health is obviously a factor, as Lowe has been able to start 68 and play in 73 of the Rays\u2019 first 78 games.<\/p>\n
The result, heading into Tuesday\u2019s game in Kansas City, has been solid overall: a .264 average, 15 homers, 42 RBIs and a .774 OPS.<\/p>\n
In previous seasons, Lowe would go on a week-or-so long binge when he carried the team but then (for an assortment of reasons) drop off, sometimes dramatically, for a similar stretch.<\/p>\n
Brandon Lowe celebrates after hitting a homer against the Texas Rangers June 4 in Tampa. It is one of 15 he has hit so far this season. [\u00a0LUIS SANTANA | Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n
But this season, he got hot in mid-May and kept on going.<\/p>\n
So, with Lowe on his second double-digit hitting streak of the last six weeks; delivering three game-tying homers and 15 tying or go-ahead RBIs; and posting a .336 average, 10 homers, 24 RBIs and a .989 OPS over his last 37 games; Josh Lowe offered a different explanation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talk about this a lot in terms of, when he\u2019s hot I don\u2019t know many guys that are hotter than him,\u201d Josh Lowe said. \u201cBut to see him over an extended period of time right now, you kind of start to question, is it really a hot streak, or is it just who he is?<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s my thought. I think it\u2019s just who he is. It\u2019s all just clicking for him at the same time. And when he\u2019s going the way he is, it\u2019s unstoppable. So, it\u2019s been really fun to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Rays have seen enough since Brandon Lowe \u2014 now approaching age 31 and the longest-tenured player on the team \u2014 was first called up in 2018 to know valuable he can be.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always said that B-Lowe is the best hitter in this lineup, the best hitter that we have,\u201d Diaz said via team interpreter Eddie Rodriguez. \u201cYou guys have seen the results, and hopefully it\u2019ll continue like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Explore all your options<\/a> The 2021 season, when he played a career-high 149 games, was the best example. Lowe \u2014 all (barely) 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds of him \u2014 hit 39 home runs, drove in 99 runs and posted a .247 average and .863 OPS. <\/p>\n That was after he played in 56 of the 60 games during the abbreviated 2020 pandemic season, hitting .269 with 14 homers, 37 RBIs and a .916 OPS. (At the same pace over a standard 162-game season, he would have had 38 homers and 100 RBIs.)<\/p>\n But availability has been a big issue, as Lowe missed considerable time in each of the past three seasons, playing in 65, 109 and 107 games.<\/p>\n That\u2019s where the staying healthy part factors into this season\u2019s success.<\/p>\n Lowe has worked hard at preventing the back and other issues that have slowed and sidelined him in the past, spending an hour in the training room and another in the weight room before he even touches a bat or ball.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just stuff that I need to do now,\u201d he said. \u201cI like to make fun that I\u2019m one of the crank engines at this time, not the push-button start. Like an old diesel engine, I\u2019ve got to idle for 15-20 minutes before I get going.\u201d<\/p>\n Add that to the considerable prep work he puts in on the mental side: watching video, studying scouting reports, tapping into his memory bank about pitchers and situations to be as ready as he can.<\/p>\n \u201cHe knows himself as well as any player that I\u2019ve been around,\u201d Cash said. \u201cWhat makes him go, what makes him stay on the field, what he needs to do, the way his swing works, all of those things.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I think health is playing a big role in the success that he\u2019s having. You look at the last couple seasons when he\u2019s on the field, able to play, he produces at a very, very \u2014 at an elite, All-Star level. So, just want to kind of keep him that way, because he means so much to our team.”<\/p>\n There also is the matter of pride.<\/p>\n For the second straight year, Lowe is playing to have an option picked up, with his $11.5 million salary for 2026 at this point looking like a bargain. Though it has been accompanied by the usual trade speculation, amid his desire to stay a Ray.<\/p>\n Further driving Lowe this season is the chance to make the American League All-Star team. He isn\u2019t going to be elected a starter by the fans (ranking a distant fourth in the latest voting), but with the most homers, RBIs and slugging percentage of AL second basemen he has a shot to either be voted a reserve by the players or appointed by MLB, which fills out the roster, makes sure all teams are represented and names replacements for injured players. <\/p>\n (First baseman Jonathan Aranda, third baseman Junior Caminero and starter Drew Rasmussen would seem the other most likely Rays candidates.)<\/p>\n Lowe made it to the 2019 All-Star Game<\/a> but couldn\u2019t play. He was added as an injury replacement but was sidelined himself, with a severely bruised shin from a foul ball.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019d be an incredible honor to be one of hopefully multiple All-Stars that are on this team,\u201d he said. \u201cIt would be fantastic. … It would be extremely cool to be one of the guys that gets to go there and to actually be able to play this time around.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019d definitely like to take a swing at it.<\/p>\n Tonight<\/p>\n at Royals, 7:40 TV\/radio: FanDuel Sports Sun; 95.3-FM, 620-AM<\/p>\n \u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter<\/a> to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.<\/p>\n Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast<\/a> to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports.<\/p>\n Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\nBrandon Lowe (8) celebrates with outfielder Josh Lowe after hitting a two-run home run against the Blue Jays in May in Tampa. “When he\u2019s going the way he is,” Josh Lowe said, “it\u2019s unstoppable.” [\u00a0JEFFEREE WOO | Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n
Brandon Lowe in previous seasons would go on a week-or-so long binge when he carried the Rays but then would drop off, sometimes dramatically. Not this season. He got hot in mid-May and kept right on going. [\u00a0JEFFEREE WOO | Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n