TORONTO, ONT – Josh Lowe of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with teammates in the dugout during the … More game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in TorontoOntario, Canada. (Photo by Colton Hall\/MLB Photos via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n
As frustrating as it was for Josh Lowe to miss most of the first two months of the 2024 season due to a right oblique that would not stop barking, he learned how to deal with the rehab process as well how to better handle returning to the lineup. Unfortunately, it did not take long to apply those lessons in 2025 as yet another oblique injury forced his removal from the Rays\u2019 Opening Day game against visiting Colorado. A six-week absence followed.<\/p>\n
The left-handed hitting outfielder, who last year was first sidelined at the end of spring training and again in late May only two weeks after making his season debut, did not really get cranked up until early June. Frustrated from missing nearly two full months, Lowe made the mistake of attempting to make up for missed at-bats instead being where his feet were. In a sense, he entered the batter\u2019s box battling himself as well as the opposing pitcher.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year, I felt like when I came back that I had to immediately make an impact and do more to make up for the missed time,\u201d he said Monday afternoon before his first home game since the opener. \u201cWhereas now, I am going to take it one day at a time and do what I can in focusing on helping the team win today instead of making up for lost time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lowe hit .241 with 10 homers, 34 RBI and a .693 OPS in 106 games last season. He struck out 123 times in 353 at-bats, only one less time than 2023 when he had 113 more ABs. That 2023 campaign was a memorable first full season as he hit .292 with 20 homers, 83 RBI and 32 stolen bases (36 attempts) in 135 games.<\/p>\n
The Rays would love nothing more than to have the 27-year-old produce much like he did two years ago. It has been a case of so far, so good since he returned to the lineup in Toronto last Thursday when he had an immediate impact in collecting three hits, including a home run, and scored three times while serving as the DH in an 8-3 win. Through Monday evening\u2019s game against visiting Houston, Lowe was 5-for-18 in five games since returning.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy timing feels pretty good, all things considered,\u201d said Lowe, whose mother\u2019s courageous battle<\/a> with brain cancer has been well documented. \u201cSwings feel pretty good and I am seeing the ball well. Doing what I can now to help the team win.\u201d<\/p>\n Nobody knows better than manager Kevin Cash how important it is to have a healthy Lowe in the lineup.<\/p>\n \u201cReally encouraged by him and his first game back was a big highlight,\u201d said the Rays\u2019 skipper. \u201cWe need Josh to be good, to be healthy and it looks like he has shown that in the quality of his at-bats.\u201d<\/p>\n