Josh Lowe had a very brief spring training before injuries set in. The hope is that he will return ... [+]
When he met with the media before last Sunday’s game against the Giants, Kevin Cash noted that Josh Lowe has been feeling well and progressing toward returning to the team. It was a bit of good news delivered by the Rays’ manager, whose club has struggled offensively so far in 2024.
The Rays were hitting .239 through 18 games and were not getting production from key players. At one point, reigning American League batting champ Yandy Diaz was in a 1-for-23 skid and had his average slip below .200 during Tuesday’s evening 7-6 win in 13 innings over the visiting Angels, a game in which the Rays had only one hit through 8 2/3 innings. Randy Arozarena was 6-for-51 (.117) in the first 14 games of April. Both had an OPS below .600.
“Randy and Yandy are talented hitters and they’re going to figure it out,” said Cash. “I know they are grinding though it a little bit right now. You are probably going to have certain points throughout the season when this happens. It’s magnified a little more when it’s right out of the gate.”
Not that Diaz and Arozarena are alone. Harold Ramirez had only two extra base hits in his first 16 games and Jose Siri was hitting .220 with 28 strikeouts in 59 at-bats.
Lowe provided a nice combination of power and speed in his first full MLB season of 2023. The lefthanded hitter batted .292 with 20 homers, 83 RBI and 32 stolen bases while his play in right field noticeably improved as the season progressed. Lowe also spelled Siri in center, where he started 12 games.
The 26-year-old younger brother of the Rangers’ Nathaniel, a former Ray, played two Grapefruit League games before he was sidelined with inflammation in his left hip. The plan was for him to rest for roughly two weeks. As he was ramping back up, Lowe strained his right oblique and was placed in the IL.
Lowe has been in extended spring training and was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham on Thursday. There is a chance he could join the Rays before the calendar flips to May, but he will be monitored carefully.
“We’ll see where it goes,” said Cash, noting Lowe will play right and center. “Pretty unique situation without really having any spring. I can’t say that I won’t get excited if he starts getting some big results right away. We have to be smart because once he (returns to the Rays), we want to have him here the rest of the way.”
Cash has been penciling in lineups dominated by righthanded hitters. Brandon Lowe and Jonathan Aranda, two other lefty bats, have also been absent.
The oft-injured Brandon Lowe, who has had stretches throughout his career where he has carried the team, but has played as many as 100 games only twice since debuting with Tampa Bay in 2018, was placed on the 10-day IL April 12 with a strained right oblique. He was hitting .185 (5-for-27) when he was shelved and is expected to miss at least another couple of weeks.
The 25-year-old Aranda largely scuffled in small sample sizes the past two years (.212, 165 AB) with the Rays, though Cash made it clear the organization still believed highly in Aranda’s ability to contribute. He was having a very strong Grapefruit League season (13-for-35, .371) and appeared to be on his way to living up to the club’s expectations.
As luck would have it, a week before Opening Day, Aranda fractured his right ring finger during a fielding drill and is likely out until some point in May. He had pins removed from his finger Monday.
“Still a ways away, but definitely in the right direction,” said Cash, in updating Aranda’s status.
