Jed Lowrie

Jed Carlson Lowrie (born April 17, 1984) is an American professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics and New York Mets. While primarily a shortstop throughout his career, Lowrie has also played third base and second base.

Jed Lowrie
Lowrie with the Athletics in 2017
Free agent
Infielder
Born: (1984-04-17) April 17, 1984
Salem, Oregon
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 15, 2008, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Batting average.261
Home runs104
Runs batted in509
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
World University Championship
2004 Tainan Team

Early life

Lowrie was born on April 17, 1984, in Salem, Oregon, and later attended North Salem High School.[1] In 2004, while playing for the Stanford University Cardinal baseball team, Lowrie earned Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year honors. He was a First Team All-American in 2004 and 2005. At Stanford, future major league outfielders Sam Fuld, John Mayberry Jr., and Carlos Quentin were among Lowrie's teammates.[2]

Professional career

Boston Red Sox

From 2005 through 2007, Lowrie played for Boston at three different minor league levels. During the 2007 season, he made the Eastern League All-Star team, was named the Portland Sea Dogs' Most Valuable Player, and the Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Year. He was promoted to the Pawtucket Red Sox of the Class AAA International League late in the season.

Lowrie was called up from the minor leagues on April 10, 2008, after Mike Lowell was placed on the disabled list (DL). He made his debut on April 15, driving home three runs in a 5–3 victory in Cleveland.[3][4]

Lowrie with the Boston Red Sox in 2008

Lowrie was called up to replace Julio Lugo when he went on the DL.[5] On August 1, 2008, in teammate Jason Bay's first game on the Red Sox, Lowrie hit a game winning infield single in the 12th inning to knock in Bay with the decisive run and upend the Oakland Athletics, 2–1.[6] Lowrie was responsible for the other Red Sox run in that game, as a sacrifice fly in the second inning allowed Bay to score from third. On August 24, he hit his second home run of the season, a game-winner, as the Sox won 6–5.[7] He committed no errors in 49 games played at shortstop during the regular season,[8] and played regularly in the 2008 postseason as one of Boston's two starting shortstops. Lowrie hit his first major league home run against the Twins inside the Metrodome. On October 6, 2008, Lowrie drove in the series-winning run against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.[9]

Lowrie's pre-season grand slam on April 4, 2009, was the first major league home run at Citi Field.[10] During the 2009 regular season, Lowrie appeared in five games for Boston before landing on the 15-day disabled list with a left wrist sprain on April 13 (retroactive to April 12). On April 21, the switch-hitter underwent an ulnar styloid excision and arthroscopic ligament repair on his left wrist performed by Dr. Donald Sheridan which landed him on the 60-day disabled list. Lowrie began a minor league rehab assignment on June 21 and on July 8 the Red Sox activated him from the 60-day DL. Lowrie came off the DL July 18.[11] However, on August 8, he was placed on the disabled list again with ulnar neuritis in his left wrist.[12] On September 8, he was re-activated from the DL when the Red Sox expanded their 40-man roster. In his first game back against the Blue Jays in Toronto he hit a home run batting right-handed. On October 4, he hit his first career grand slam against the Cleveland Indians.[13]

Lowrie batting for the Houston Astros in 2012

In 2010, Lowrie suffered from mononucleosis during the season. He made his season debut on July 21, 2010 against the Oakland Athletics. On August 21, 2010, he hit a walk-off home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the 11th inning off of Casey Janssen.[14] He also made his debut as a first baseman during the 2010 season, initially as a late-innings replacement for Mike Lowell; the Red Sox planned to give him opportunities to start at first base in the future.[15] During the final weeks of the season, he had the first multi-home run games of his career, hitting two home runs against the Seattle Mariners on September 14, followed by two more home runs against the Yankees in the season's final game. Although having less than 200 PA's during the 2010 season, Lowrie's productivity was still substantial; his .904 OPS ranked behind only Troy Tulowitzki among all MLB shortstops.

Entering 2011 needing to contend with shortstop Marco Scutaro for the starting shortstop position in the Red Sox lineup, Lowrie began the season on a tear, hitting .516 through his first 31 at-bats. On April 18, 2011, he went 4-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs.[16] On August 16, 2011, Jed Lowrie started a triple play with help of Dustin Pedroia and Adrián González against the Tampa Bay Rays.[17]

Houston Astros

On December 14, 2011, he was traded along with Kyle Weiland to the Houston Astros for reliever Mark Melancon.[18][19]

Lowrie was about to head to an arbitration hearing, but he and the Astros agreed on a one-year, $1.15 million deal with bonuses for performance and awards on February 8, 2012. He filed for $1.5 million, but the Astros countered with $900,000. Had Lowrie gone to a hearing, he couldn't have possibly had bonuses in his contract.[20]

Lowrie batting for the Oakland Athletics in 2013

Oakland Athletics

The Astros on February 4, 2013 traded Lowrie and Fernando Rodriguez to the Oakland Athletics for Chris Carter, Brad Peacock, and Max Stassi.[21] The trade reunited him with former Red Sox teammate Josh Reddick.

Lowrie was initially expected to play second base, but due to the struggles and injury of shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima, Lowrie was placed at shortstop, and was the regular starter there throughout the 2013 season.

Lowrie continued as Oakland's starting shortstop during the 2014 season. On August 4, Lowrie broke his right index finger while fielding a ground ball—after attempting to play through the injury, Lowrie went to the disabled list on August 15. He was hitting a career-low .238 with 5 home runs.[22]

Second stint with Astros

The Astros announced on December 15, 2014, that they had agreed to a three-year contract with Lowrie. There was a club option for a fourth year. The deal was worth as much as $28 million. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said that Lowrie fit well with one of the main objectives for the 2015 Astros, which was to improve the defensive skills of the team's infield.[23]

Some teams had explored signing Lowrie to play second base or third base. The Astros had a need at his preferred position, shortstop, though minor league prospect and shortstop Carlos Correa has a chance to make the major league team at some point during the 2015 season. Astros leadership has said that Correa will stay at shortstop; Astros beat writer Evan Drellich predicted that Lowrie might move to third base if Correa were called up to the major leagues.[23]

Second stint with Athletics

On November 25, 2015, Lowrie was traded back to the Athletics for minor league pitcher Brendan McCurry.[24] After the A's acquired shortstop Marcus Semien in a trade with the White Sox, Lowrie moved to second base. His 2015 season was cut short due to numerous injuries, allowing him to play in 69 games only. His 2016 season would be cut short due to injury as well, as he was diagnosed with a season ending toe injury, ending his season short to 87 games. In 2017 Lowrie set a new Oakland record for most doubles in a season, with 49.[25]

On July 10, 2018, owning a .288 batting average with 16 home runs and 62 RBIs,[26] Lowrie was named as an All-Star for the first time in his career, replacing injured Gleyber Torres on the team.[27] On August 12, 2018, Lowrie recorded hit number 1,000 against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim with a double in the first inning.[28] Lowrie would later hit his 100th career home run against Félix Hernández of the Seattle Mariners in Oakland on August 14, 2018, in the form of a two-run homer.[29]

New York Mets

On January 10, 2019, Lowrie signed a two-year deal with the New York Mets.[30] He was placed on the disabled list to begin the season with a knee sprain.[31] Ultimately, Lowrie saw 7 pinch-hit at-bats in 2019 with one walk and no hits. He saw no field time that season.

Personal life

Lowrie and his wife Milessa have a daughter, Saige, and a son, Miles. Lowrie collects wines and has a collection of "several hundred bottles" in his home in Salem.[32]

References
  1. Fentress, Aaron (April 18, 2011). "MLB local ties: Boston's Jed Lowrie continues hot streak; Darwin Barney consistent in No. 2 hole; Mike Stutes dominant in Triple-A". The Oregonian. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
  2. "Yankees are bombing again; departed Rays struggling; more trends – Joe Lemire". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. April 20, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  3. "Jed Lowrie Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  4. "Boston Red Sox at Cleveland Indians Box Score, April 15, 2008". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  5. "Red Sox place Lugo on 15-day DL, call up Lowrie". Associated Press. July 12, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  6. Cassidy, Maggie (August 2, 2008). "Lowrie leaves an impression". The Boston Globe.
  7. David Singh (August 24, 2008). "Sox win dramatically in midst of race". mlb.com. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  8. Chuck, Bill. 100 random things about the Red Sox, Rays, and Yankees, The Boston Globe. Published April 2, 2009. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
  9. "Red Sox squeeze past Angels, advance to ALCS". Reuters. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  10. Schwarz, Alan (April 4, 2009). "Perez Falters in Tune-Up, but Achieves Citi Field Milestone". The New York Times.
  11. Browne, Ian (April 20, 2009). "Lowrie activated, heads to Minors". MLB.com. Boston.redsox.mlb.com. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  12. DiComo, Anthony (August 8, 2009). "Lowrie lands back on disabled list". MLB.com. Boston.redsox.mlb.com. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  13. "Red Sox blast Indians". Times Union. October 19, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  14. "Jed Lowrie Mashes Walk-Off Home Run in 11th Inning, Red Sox Win 5-4". NESN.com. August 22, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  15. Browne, Ian (August 22, 2010). "Lowrie will get starts at first base in future". MLB.com. mlb.com. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  16. "Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox Box Score, April 18, 2011". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  17. Browne, Ian (August 16, 2011). "Boston turns its first triple play since '94". MLB.com. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  18. Red Sox Acquire Melancon For Lowrie, Weiland MLB Trade Rumors
  19. Red Sox swap Jed Lowrie for Astros reliever Mark Melancon MLB.com
  20. Levine, Zachary (February 8, 2012). "Astros, Lowrie avoid arbitration with one-year deal". Houston Chronicle.
  21. Nicholson-Smith, Ben (February 4, 2013). "Athletics Acquire Jed Lowrie In Five-Player Deal". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  22. Estes, Ben (August 15, 2014). "Oakland Athletics place shortstop Jed Lowrie on disabled list, recall Andy Parrino". SI.com. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  23. Drellich, Evan. "Jed Lowrie back with Astros on 3-year deal". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  24. "Report: Athletics acquire Jed Lowrie from Astros". www.baseballessential.com. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  25. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/08/jed-lowrie-to-undergo-season-ending-surgery.html
  26. https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/07/10/jed-lowries-snub-is-righted-named-to-first-all-star-game-of-his-career/
  27. Thosar, Deesha (July 10, 2018). "Jed Lowrie named to first All Star team". MLB.com. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  28. Slusser, Susan (August 12, 2018). "A's Jed Lowrie regaining strength, records 1,000th career hit". SFGate. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  29. He, Eric (August 14, 2018). "Lowrie hits tiebreaking blast for 100th homer". MLB.com. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  30. DiComo, Anthony (January 16, 2019). "Lowrie introduced after signing with Mets". MLB.com. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  31. https://wfan.radio.com/articles/news/mets-jed-lowrie-and-todd-frazier-will-miss-opening-day
  32. Associated Press (January 16, 2019). "Mets newcomer Jed Lowrie ready to play all over the diamond". ESPN. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
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