Reds Beat: Rhett Lowder Continues His Upward Path But No Rush, Pitching Depth To Face Test

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Rhett Lowder is in no hurry to get to the big leagues. And neither are the Reds.

The right-handed top pitching prospect in the system continues to impress in Spring Training, with the latest showing coming in two scoreless, hitless innings Thursday in the Spring Breakout game featuring top prospects from all around baseball.

Lowder pitched the fourth and fifth innings in Thursday’s 4-1 Cincinnati win over Texas prior to the regularly scheduled Cactus League game at Surprise Stadium.

“I just got out there, trying to throw strikes and (defense) making plays so it wasn’t it wasn’t too bad. I had all four (pitches) working to both sides, but felt good easy and myself easy out there.”

“I think it’s being more comfortable throwing all pitches in any count to both sides. I feel like in college you can kind of just exploit one pitch to each side, but you kind of have to mix it up a little bit here more. So I think it’s something that I had no trouble doing but it’s get a little more experience doing.”

Lowder’s last year statistically at Wake Forest in 2023 was the best of any pitcher in college baseball. He was 15-0 with a 1.87 ERA and 0.95 WHIP, striking out a school-record 143 batters.

But just as impressive is how he improved in his three seasons at Wake.

He was 4–2 with a 6.12 ERA, 78 strikeouts, and 14 home runs allowed over 67.2 innings as a freshman in 2021. As a sophomore in 2022, Lowder started 16 games and pitched to an 11–3 record with a 3.08 ERA, 105 strikeouts and 26 walks over 99.1 innings.

He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Year, becoming the first ever player from Wake Forest to win the award. Following the season’s end, he was named to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.

In 2023, Lowder went 15–0, leading NCAA Division I in wins, and also finished in the top 10 nationally in ERA (1.87), strikeouts (a school-record 143), and WHIP (0.95), playing a key role in the Deacons’ run to the Men’s College World Series.

The Reds signed him to an under-slot deal worth $5.7 million after drafting him seventh overall in the MLB draft. Jose Moreno managed the Reds prospects on Thursday and will likely manage him this spring at Double-A Chattanooga.

“I’ve been watching him in spring training,” Moreno said. “I mean you can tell he has a real good arm. He has Major League talent. (Just get) him the reps. He’s attacking the zone. He’s ahead in the count, breaking ball is real good. So I think it’s going to be fun to have. Hopefully we can, for sure, have him in Chattanooga for a short period of time and then send him to Cincinnati.”

Lowder says despite what goes on above him at the big league level, he knows he needs to take his time in the journey after being drafted seventh overall last July.

“I’m just enjoying the process,” Lowder said. “I think my main goal for this year is just to stay healthy and see where that leads me. I’m trying not to put a timetable on myself because it does no good. At the end of the day, it’s out of my control and I’m just trying to get out there and pitch and stay healthy and help any way I can.”

Perhaps the biggest benefit to Lowder in his first big league camp is to be exposed to how big league pitchers approach and prepare for a season.

And while it’s true Cincinnati’s clubhouse is populated by very young pitchers like Andrew Abbott, Graham Ashcraft, Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo, the 21-year-old Lowder is soaking up what they can offer.

“I kind of just kind of try to sit back and take in what those guys were doing in there. I mean, they’re obviously super-talented. They’re all super-intentional with their work and that’s something I try to take away, being as intentional as I can with every pitch and every day.”

When you listen to Lowder talk about his craft, you can see why they liked him for more than just his right arm.

“I think I can have success in many different ways. But that’s something I take pride in is getting to every quadrant in the zone with with multiple pitches and it’s not easy to do but when it’s working, it’s pretty good feeling.

“When I heard about (pitching in Spring Breakout game), I thought it was going to be super cool, and I’ve had a lot of fun out there with this group of guys, so I’m definitely blessed to be out here.”

Alex Young IL to start the season, Martinez update:

Reds manager David Bell is still hoping that right-hander Nick Martinez can be part of the rotation plans to start the season after dealing with a right rib issue the last couple of weeks of spring training.

“He’s still working through it with Dr. Kremchek and our medical staff,” Bell said Friday. “We’re just trying to make a good decision because he feels symptom-free on his throwing. He threw long (Thursday) and he felt good. Yet, there’s something there. So we’re just trying to make a good decision.”

The news was a little more ominous on lefty reliever Alex Young. He will start the season on the injured list after coming up with a back issue this week.

“I don’t know the technical term but it’s bothering him,” Bell said. “He’s going to have treatments like injections I think just to get get out of the pain. Then it’s gonna be a little bit of a break. He will not start the year on time and will probably stay out here.”

Justin Wilson returns:

The Reds welcomed back lefty reliever Justin Wilson Friday, signing the 36-year-old lefty to a one-year, big league deal. He was picked up by the Dodgers in the offseason but opted out of his minor-league deal this week with the Dodgers after striking out nine and allowing two runs over four innings this spring.

Wilson last appeared in the Majors with the Reds in 2022 before needing Tommy John surgery. Bell said Friday his return was not related to Alex Young’s back injury. Wilson appeared in just four games in 2022 for the Reds, totaling four innings, five hits, five runs and three earned. A career set-up man, Wilson has 74 appearances, all in relief with no saves.

Rare rainout:

A rare washout hit Goodyear on Friday, raining out the scheduled game between the Royals and Reds. Not only did heavy showers hit Thursday night and Friday, it was an unseasonably cool 56 degrees just before first pitch. Nick Lodolo was in line to start for Cincinnati and go three innings in his second spring start. Lodolo is projected to start the season on the injured list as he ramps up but Bell is hopeful to have him ready by the second or third turn of the rotation in April.

Latest 26-man Opening Day roster projection for 2024:

Regulars (9):

C: Tyler Stephenson
1B: Christian Encarnacion-Strand
2B: Matt McLain
SS: Elly De La Cruz
3B: Jeimer Candelario
LF: Spencer Steer
CF: TJ Friedl
RF: Jake Fraley
DH: Jonathan India

Bench (4):

C Luke Maile
INF Nick Martini
OF Will Benson
OF Stuart Fairchild

Starters (5):

RHP Hunter Greene
RHP Frankie Montas
RHP Graham Ashcraft
LHP Andrew Abbott
RHP Nick Martinez

Relievers (8):

LHP Sam Moll
RHP Lucas Sims
RHP Buck Farmer
RHP Alexis Diaz
RHP Emilio Pagan
RHP Fernando Cruz
LHP Brent Suter
RHP Tejay Antone

IL:

LHP Nick Lodolo
RHP Ian Gibaut
LHP Alex Young

Suspended:

INF Noelvi Marte

Keep an eye on:

LHP Justin Wilson
OF Mike Ford
OF Tony Kemp
RHP Carson Spiers Triple-A Louisville
LHP Brandon Williamson
INF Edwin Arroyo Minor League Camp
RHP Rhett Lowder Minor League Camp
RHP Chase Petty Minor League Camp
LHP Justin Bruihl Triple-A Louisville
RHP Casey Legumina Triple-A Louisville
OF Rece Hinds Triple-A Louisville
LHP Reiver Sanmartin Minor League Camp
INF Josh Harrison