Lowder (oblique/forearm) has made three starts for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
The Reds are being careful with Lowder, who has thrown two innings in all a three of his outings. The 2023 first-round selection allowed two runs on four hits while striking out six with zero walks. The right-hander is coming off a lost season due to his injuries and pitched a total of 9.1 innings in rehab outings during 2025. The club believes Lowder will have a normal offseason and compete for a rotation spot in spring training.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Receives clean bill of health
Rotowire
Lowder (oblique/forearm) was activated from the 60-day injured list Monday, per MLB's transactions log.
Lowder made it through a brief scare in his rehab as it was taking him a bit longer than expected to recover between outings, but MRI results returned negative and he's since been activated. He worked only two innings during his last rehab appearance Sept. 13 against Triple-A Toledo, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Reds roll him out for a relief appearance or two during the final week of the regular season.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: MRI on shoulder is negative
Rotowire
Lowder (oblique/forearm) recently underwent an MRI on his right shoulder that came back negative, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Reds manager Terry Francona noted that Lowder -- who hasn't pitched since Sept. 13 -- was having trouble recovering in between appearances. While imaging came back clean, Lowder's rehab will be slowed, which effectively ends his season. He's been limited to just five rehab appearances this season due to forearm, oblique and now shoulder issues.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Works two innings in rehab game
Rotowire
Lowder (oblique/forearm) allowed one earned run on two hits and struck out two over two innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Saturday. He also hit a batter.
Lowder is expected to make one rehab start with Louisville before the minor-league season wraps up, but the right-hander may not be activated from the 60-day injured list before the end of the regular season. Though he appears to be in line for a normal offseason of preparation, Lowder is still expected to pitch in the Arizona Fall League to make up for the development time he lost out on in 2025. He's spent the entire season on the injured list, first due to a right forearm strain suffered in spring training before he was shut down again after straining his left oblique during a rehab appearance with Louisville on May 22.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Beginning assignment Saturday
Rotowire
Lowder (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
Lowder has sat out the entire season while working his way back from injuries to his forearm and, more recently, his oblique. The Reds haven't ruled out a late-season return for the 23-year-old righty, though he would need a relatively quick rehab assignment to have time to make an appearance for the Reds before the end of the season.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Begins throwing program
Rotowire
Lowder (forearm/oblique) threw a side session earlier this week and is expected to do so again Friday in front of team staff when the Reds are in Arizona, MLB.com reports.
The report indicates Lowder's side session went well, which is encouraging news for the team's 2024 first-round draft pick. The right-hander is not expected to pitch for Cincinnati or any of its affiliates this season but is expected to have a normal offseason, which will include the Arizona Fall League.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Gets clearance for mound work
Rotowire
Lowder (forearm/oblique) has been cleared to begin throwing from a mound after an MRI on his oblique came back negative, MLB.com reports.
Lowder is scheduled to throw in the bullpen Sunday. The right-hander first experienced a forearm injury in spring training, then developed an oblique strain while rehabbing in May. The Reds expects him to have a normal offseason, but it's unclear how missing an entire season of development may impact his ability to compete for a spot in the Reds' rotation next spring.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Initiates throwing program
Rotowire
Lowder (forearm/oblique) is tentatively scheduled to throw from a bullpen mound Aug. 17, MLB.com reports.
Lowder began a throwing program this week with the goal of being available to throw in the Arizona Fall League. The organization believes the right-hander should be set up for a normal offseason.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Targeting return for Fall baseball
Rotowire
Reds manager Terry Francona said Lowder (forearm/oblique) is doing rotational stuff and is expected to start throwing this week, MLB.com reports.
Francona added that Lowder is going to have a "pretty big buildup." The organization is hopeful the 23-year-old right-hander will be available for the Arizona Fall League.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Still no baseball activity
Rotowire
Lowder (forearm/oblique) continues to rehab in Arizona but has not yet participated in more advanced baseball activity, MLB.com reports.
Lowder endured elbow soreness and a forearm injury during spring training before an oblique injury paused his rehab assignment in May. The oblique is the issue now, and it threatens to scrap a year of development for the 23-year-old right-hander.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Reports to Arizona
Rotowire
Lowder (forearm/oblique) reported to the Reds' complex in Goodyear (Ariz.) on Wednesday to begin a rehab program, MLB.com reports.
Lowder, who was rehabbing a forearm injury, had a rehab assignment paused when he incurred an oblique injury. The focus of his rehab is now on the oblique.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Reds transferred Lowder (forearm/oblique) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for lefty Wade Miley, who was signed Wednesday. Lowder originally went on the 15-day IL with a right forearm strain but more recently suffered a left oblique strain while on a rehab assignment. The righty remains shut down with the oblique issue, and it's unclear when he'll be ready to resume his rehab assignment.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Rehab paused
Rotowire
Manager Terry Francona said Saturday that Lowder (forearm/oblique) "won't be able to do much" for a few weeks, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
Lowder suffered an oblique strain during his rehab outing Thursday, and he'll now need to wait a few more weeks before he heads back to the team's complex in Arizona to restart his buildup process. There is no timeline in place for the right-hander to return, and he likely won't have one until he starts throwing again.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Dealing with oblique strain
Rotowire
Lowder (forearm) exited Thursday's rehab start with a strained oblique, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
It's believed to be a "significant" strain, according to Goldsmith. Lowder was already working his way back from a forearm issue, so this new injury certainly sets him back. The No. 7 overall pick of the 2023 Draft, Lowder has yet to pitch in the big leagues this season, as he also dealt with some elbow soreness during the spring. His 2025 debut will have to wait even longer.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Exits rehab start with side injury
Rotowire
Lowder (forearm) was removed from a rehab start with Triple-A Louisville in the second inning Thursday with an apparent left side injury, Dusty Baker of WAVE 3 News reports.
Lowder threw a scoreless first inning before having to exit after throwing just one pitch in the second. The righty was making his second rehab start with Louisville and fourth rehab start in total as he comes back from a right forearm strain. Lowder had been roughed up for 11 runs (10 earned) over 7.1 innings on the rehab assignment prior to this setback.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Completes second rehab start
Rotowire
Lowder (forearm) gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out five over three innings in his rehab start Sunday with High-A Dayton.
After covering three innings in his first rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Tuesday, Lowder shifted his assignment to the Midwest League for his second outing. Though he was capped at three innings once again, Lowder pushed up his pitch count to 63 (45 strikes). Lowder's final line wasn't especially impressive, though he was a victim of some bad luck on balls in play, as all five of the hits he allowed were singles. Lowder is likely to make at least one more start in the minors before the Reds decide whether he's ready to return from the 15-day injured list. Cincinnati could have a spot available in the rotation for Lowder once he's activated, as he might be viewed as an upgrade over Chase Petty for the No. 5 spot while the team waits for Hunter Greene (groin) to make his return from the IL.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Rehab shifting to Dayton
Rotowire
Lowder (forearm) will make his next rehab start Sunday for High-A Dayton, MLB.com reports.
Lowder had his first rehab outing Tuesday, when he logged three innings for the Reds' affiliate in the Arizona Complex League. He checked out okay a day later and will move on to more advanced competition.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Debuts in ACL
Rotowire
Lowder (forearm) allowed two runs on four hits while striking out five over three innings for the ACL Reds on Tuesday.
Lowder, who has been working his way back from a forearm injury since before spring training, made his 2025 debut in the Arizona Complex League. If the right-hander checks out OK, Lowder's next step will be to begin a rehab assignment at High-A Dayton.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Set to begin rehab assignment
Rotowire
Lowder (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with the Reds' Arizona Complex League affiliate on Tuesday.
Lowder missed all of spring training with a right forearm strain but has been cleared to pitch in games after a long rehab process. The right-hander isn't guaranteed a spot in the Reds' rotation once he's deemed physically ready, although it will depend on how he's pitching at the time and what the major-league team's needs are.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Still throwing off flat ground
Rotowire
Lowder (elbow) has been throwing off flat ground the last few weeks since being cleared by the medical staff, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Lowder said he's progressing through the throwing program and believes he'll be on the "mound here shortly," although there's been no schedule established. The recently turned 23-year-old right-hander had been a candidate for the rotation, but it now appears likely he'll begin the season on the injured list before eventually heading to Triple-A Louisville. Lowder was impressive in a brief stint in the majors at the end of the 2024 regular season, posting a 1.17 ERA over six starts (30.2 innings).
