Stephen Vogt isn’t backing away from Nathaniel Lowe, even after a stretch in Cleveland that looks ugly on paper.
The Guardians brought in the left-handed slugger from the Cincinnati Reds right before the trade deadline expecting an above-average bat who could add some power and help drive in runs in the middle of the lineup. Lowe gave them a decent start, but the production faded as the season went on. In 43 games with Cleveland, he finished with a 77 wRC+ and a .226 batting average.
Those numbers make the move look like a letdown, especially with the reminder that Lowe posted a 123 wRC+ in Cincinnati. But the box score only tells part of the story. Cleveland has also gotten veteran leadership, a steady clubhouse presence, and a hitter who has brought in 27 RBI in those 43 games.
That’s the version Vogt sees every day.
“[Nathaniel Lowe’s] approach is a winner’s approach. He’s not trying to do everything himself.
He’s doing what the game is asking him to do, and that’s the hitter he’s been his whole career,” Vogt said. “I’m really excited that he’s going to be in the middle of our order.”
Lowe’s value, at least from Vogt’s perspective, is rooted in how he handles different spots in a game. If there’s a runner on third and fewer than two outs in a tight game, he’s looking to get that run home with a sacrifice fly or a piece of contact that does the job. If Cleveland is trailing or leading comfortably, he can work a walk and make the pitcher labor.
That kind of approach is exactly why the Guardians wanted him stabilizing first base. Prospect Ralphy Velazquez could have been the option there, but Vogt preferred a veteran, and Lowe fit that description. Even with the modest output since arriving in Cleveland on August 3, Vogt still sees him as as steady as they come.
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