BOSTON — Nathaniel Lowe arrived contained in the Boston Crimson Sox clubhouse on Monday with numerous questions and quite a bit to show as properly.
Lowe, signed by the Crimson Sox after he was positioned on waivers following being designated for project by the Washington Nationals, will assist Boston at first base, in keeping with supervisor Alex Cora.
Cora informed reporters on Monday that Lowe, who has a profession OPS+ of 116 however posted simply an 88 in 440 at-bats this season in Washington, would help the Crimson Sox in positional conditions on the plate.
“We’ll use him in opposition to righties, sure lefties,” Cora mentioned. “We’ll maximize the roster this yr.”
The Crimson Sox are hoping to see extra of the Lowe who received a Silver Slugger in 2022 with the Texas Rangers, then posted a 114 OPS+ together with a Gold Glove at first base to assist the Rangers win the World Collection in 2023.
“… An up-and-down season for him with the Nationals. Hopefully he comes right here — we talked a little bit bit concerning the wall and what it means to lefties. And he’s excited to be right here,” Cora mentioned.
Lowe indicated he was excited to get a contemporary begin in Boston and put behind a season thus far that has resulted in a .216/.292/.373 slash line.
Regardless of these numbers, nonetheless, Lowe has come by means of when wanted. With runners in scoring place, he is hitting .291 this season, matching his profession batting common within the division.
“I might wish to have amnesia. I might wish to wipe it from my reminiscence as a result of it hasn’t gone practically in addition to I might have favored for it to,” Lowe mentioned. “There are nonetheless some brilliant spots I can have a look at and nonetheless grasp my hat on, however there’s a lot room for enchancment.”
Lowe’s addition also needs to enhance a primary base platoon that has ranked twenty third amongst MLB’s 30 groups in Wins Above Common this season. Boston’s minus-1.7 on the place is the worst within the American League East and third-worst within the AL.
“Getting plugged right into a lineup that is having nice success and part of making an amazing postseason push is what it is all about,” Lowe mentioned. “It is a true blessing to be right here.”
Lowe is one among 13 gamers to report at the very least 15 dwelling runs and 65 RBI in every of the final 5 seasons. These varieties of numbers could be a plus for the Crimson Sox as they give the impression of being to catch the Toronto Blue Jays within the AL East and proceed to tweak the roster.
“We made the large choice with Raffy (buying and selling Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants) and we needed to be taught once more as a result of we have been taking part in good baseball,” Cora mentioned. “It was a little bit bit robust for the crew however then we acquired right here and we turned the web page.
“That is the place we’re, however we nonetheless have an extended methods to go.”
Whereas maybe an extended methods to go in his eyes, Cora and the Crimson Sox hope that Lowe will assist be the compass that factors them towards a deep postseason run.
