Nathaniel Lowe gamble is making Reds' front office look smarter with every game

When the Cincinnati Reds signed Nathaniel Lowe to a minor league contract just before spring training, the question was asked, "Why did the club felt the need to make the move?" With Sal Stewart, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Spencer Steer, and Eugenio Suarez already in the fold, the Reds seemed to have more than enough options to keep the corner infield spots on lockdown.

That didn't mean a dart throw was unwarranted, but it was hard to see a path forward for the 30-year-old. Brad Meador admitted as much during spring training.

“We were very honest with him about the opportunity,” the Reds' general manager said. “It may or may not work out. Tito talked to him a couple of times. Maybe more than anything, it was the makeup of who he is and how he could be a leader and impact our club if he did make our team. It’s really played out that way.”

But Lowe put together a scorching spring that helped him win a multi-positional battle, fending off outfielders JJ Bleday and Rece Hinds, among others, for the final spot on Cincinnati's Opening Day roster.

With each passing day, Lowe proves that the Reds made the right call, and he has proven to be an integral part of the Reds' lineup now and for the rest of 2026.

The Reds saw something other teams didn't in Nathaniel Lowe

On the surface, Lowe should never have been available for such a marginal commitment. He's a former World Series champion, Gold Glove Award-winner, and Silver Slugger recipient who is still in the prime of his career. Surely, someone would have seen that value and given him a regular major-league deal. But they didn't.

Lowe was traded to the Washington Nationals ahead of the 2025 season, and his bat went silent. In 119 games with Nats, he hit just .216/.292/.373 with 16 homers and an 86 wRC+. It was a major disappointment that culminated in his release.

But then again, Washington as a whole was a major disappointment. The Nationals put together a 66-96 record last season; the third-worst mark in the MLB behind only the Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox.

After leaving Washington, Lowe latched on with the Boston Red Sox and slashed a much more representative .280/.370/.420 over 34 contests. It's not hard to see that going from the D.C. doldrums to the heat of a playoff race reinvigorated the veteran first baseman.

The Reds saw that stark difference and realized the problem in 2025 wasn't with Lowe but rather the Nationals. That brought them an opportunity to add a player with a well-above-average batting eye, solid left-handed pop, and the kind of experience and veteran leadership that can help elevate a young, hungry roster.

Lowe has done just that. When Suárez went down with an oblique injury, Lowe stepped into the lineup and became the power bat that the club desperately needed. He showed a flair for the dramatic with a huge walk-off homer on April 24, just after being inserted into the vacated DH spot.

A month later, the homers just keep on coming. With a doubleheader against the division rival St. Louis Cardinals on the slate on May 23, Lowe became the first Reds player since Joey Votto to homer in both ends of a doubleheader.

That brought Lowe's season line to .268/.333/.554 with eight homers and a 142 wRC+ over 38 games. His bat has not only filled the void Cincinnati felt during Suárez's absence, but he provided what Geno could not when healthy, as the two-time All-Star has scuffled for the majority of the season.

While the Reds' offense isn't perfect, it has seen a significant uptick in home run production, sitting at fifth in the majors, after finishing last year 21st in the majors with 167 long balls. Lowe is a big reason why.

Now, with Ke'Bryan Hayes on the IL for what looks like a lengthy stint and Suárez returning to the lineup, Cincinnati can benefit from having both of these sluggers in the lineup on a regular basis. Geno will take most of the hot corner reps, while Lowe will hold down the fort at DH with some occasional looks at first. Together, they could help take the lineup to heights it has yet to see all season, with Lowe serving as the key.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow