After a frustrating season derailed by injuries to his forearm, oblique, and shoulder, Rhett Lowder is eager to regain momentum elsewhere.
Ranked as the Reds’ top pitching prospect and No. 80 overall in baseball, Lowder has been added late to the Peoria Javelinas roster, where he’ll likely log more innings than he managed during the entire regular season.
Initially expected to compete for a Major League rotation spot after finishing 2023 in Cincinnati, Lowder was limited to just 9 1/3 frames across five rehab starts in May and September. It’s not the season he expected, but he’s ready to get back on track.
“It’s definitely frustrating, but I feel like I’ve learned a lot this year that is probably good for me in the long run,” Lowder said at the AFL Media Day. “I’ve kind of said it, you’d rather have it happen early in your career and learn from it then and try to build on it later in your career. I’m kind of lucky that I’m 23 and dealing with some of this stuff. You never want to get injured, but I’ve learned a lot about my body and everything. It’s been up and down, but I think we’re in a better spot than we were.”
Lowder may be the top pitcher participating in this year’s Arizona Fall League, a league known for favoring hitters and lacking elite pitching talent. The only other Top 100 prospect on the mound is White Sox lefty Hagen Smith (ranked No. 5 in the White Sox system and No. 88 overall). Yankees right-hander Bryce Cunningham (No. 4 in their system) is the only other pitcher with a 50 overall grade.
The 2023 first-rounder stands out for his pitchability, and his 65-grade control is tied for the second-best among ranked prospects behind only Boston’s Jedixon Paez (BOS No. 20). Lowder wields three above-average pitches: a fastball that tops out at 97 with solid sink, a fading changeup at 86-87 mph and a mid-80s slider that has been particularly effective down.
The hope is that Lowder can face strong competition and work closely with fellow top Reds prospects, including 19-year-old catcher Alfredo Duno (CIN No. 2/MLB No. 48). The North Carolina native was scratched from a potential second rehab start in September, but Cincinnati continued to have him build up. Provided he stays healthy, Lowder anticipates throwing as much as he can in the desert.
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