Nathaniel Lowe, one of the newest Washington Nationals, was acquired in a trade with the Texas Rangers earlier this offseason. Reliever Robert Garcia was sent to Texas in exchange for Lowe. Acquiring Lowe filled the gap at first base in the Nats lineup. Expect Lowe to be in the lineup in every game in the 2025 season. Let's get to know the left-handed hitting first baseman.
Background
Lowe, 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, is from Marietta, Georgia, and attended Pope High School. Lowe attended Mercer for his freshmen season of college, then transferred to St. Johns River Community College, and ultimately ended up at Mississippi State for his junior season. The Tampa Bay Rays selected Lowe in the 13th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Lowe put together a fantastic sophomore season in the minors, hitting .330 with 27 home runs and 102 RBI across three levels. His OPS was an impressive .985, and he only struck out 90 times, according to baseballreference.com. After 93 games in AAA during the 2019 season, Lowe received his call to the Majors from the Tampa Bay Rays.
In the 2019 season, Lowe played in 50 games and hit seven home runs, drove in 19 runs, and had an OPS of .779. He checked every box a front office looked for a rookie to fulfill. In the shortened 2020 season, Lowe played in just 21 games with Tampa Bay and hit .224 with four home runs and 11 RBI. In the 2020 offseason, Lowe was traded to the Texas Rangers. In his first season with his new team, Lowe hit .264 with 18 home runs and 72 RBI. In the 2022 season, he hit .302 with 27 home runs and 76 RBI. The left-hander continued his consistency in 2023 with 17 home runs and 82 RBI. Lowe played in at least 157 games for Texas from 2021-2023. In Spring Training of 2024, an oblique injury sidelined the first baseman for the beginning of the season. Lowe would play in 140 games and hit 16 home runs, drive in 69 runs, and hit .265. Lowe is the epitome of consistency, something the Nationals have been lacking at first base for a few years.
Predictions
Entering his age-29 season, Lowe is looking to continue what has made him a successful Major Leaguer, producing at the plate. While the Nats aren't in the same tier of the Majors as the Rangers, Lowe could be expected to provide more for his team than previously required. The Nats need consistency at first base and a veteran presence to guide their prospects as they begin their careers. Lowe is a World Series champion and can provide advice for young players in foreign situations.
Nationals fans can expect a line similar to what Lowe has produced in the past four seasons. Somewhere in the range of .260-.270 with 14-20 home runs and 60-80 RBI. Nats fans should be excited about adding Nathaniel Lowe to the lineup. Over the past four seasons, he's proved that he can produce at the Major League level. The Nats haven't had much "proven" talent in the lineup since the 2021 Trade Deadline. The Nats have a proven veteran in the form of Nathaniel Lowe.