Brutal Reds pitching injury may wreck their entire rotation outlook

Rhett Lowder's quest to return to the Cincinnati Reds starting rotation took a major hit on Thursday night. In his second appearance pitching for the Louisville Bats, the rehabbing Reds prospect exited the game during the top of the second inning after throwing just one pitch. The right-hander was observed favoring his right side after delivering the pitch and was immediately lifted from the game in favor of Alan Busenitz.

Lowder was plagued by an elbow injury during spring training that kept him off the Reds Opening Day roster. After an extended stay in Arizona, the former first-round pick began a rehab assignment; first at the Arizona Complex League and then at High-A Dayton.

Lowder's first Triple-A start came last week and ended after facing just six batters and reaching his pitch limit before finishing the first inning. On Thursday, he got the through the first inning, but that was it. Lowder's premature exit is undoubtedly worrisome and raises concerns about the long-term success of the Reds' starting rotation this season.

Brutal pitching injury to Reds prospect Rhett Lowder may wreck their entire rotation outlook

Lowder was in the mix to be part of the Reds rotation this spring, but almost as soon as he touched down in Goodyear, was restricted from throwing. Injuries to both Lowder and Andrew Abbott forced Carson Spiers into action, but he's since landed on the IL as well.

Abbott is back in the rotation, and Cincinnati is expected to activate Hunter Greene ahead of Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs. A rotation of Abbott, Greene, Nick Lodolo, Nick Martinez, and Brady Singer is a formidable one, but Lowder was supposed to add increased depth behind those five starters this season.

Without Lowder and Spiers in the mix at the moment, should Cincinnati need an extra arm, it would likely come in the form of Wade Miley. The rehabbing veteran put forth a shutout performance at Triple-A earlier this week and has an opt-out clause in his contract on June 1. In order to activate Miley, however, it would require a corresponding move to open up a spot on the Reds 40-man roster.

There was no word on the severity of Lowder's injury immediately following the game, and it's likely he'll undergo further imaging to uncover the extent of the damage. Based on his reaction, however, this latest hiccup could sideline Lowder for several more weeks.

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