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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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: Chased early from rehab start
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Lowder (forearm) allowed four runs on four hits and one walk while recording one out in his rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Louisville.
Lowder made the third start on his rehab assignment, moving up a couple of levels from High-A Dayton, but he was pulled after just 29 pitches. After striking out the first batter he faced, Lowder allowed the next five batters to reach base before he was done for the day. Per MLB.com, Lowder covered three simulated innings in the bullpen after being pulled Saturday, so he was still seemingly able to push up his pitch count. The rehab assignment has been rocky thus far for Lowder, who has given up 11 runs (10 earned) on 13 hits (two home runs), two walks and a hit batsman while striking out 11 over 6.1 innings.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Completes second rehab start
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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
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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
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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
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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).
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Impresses in second win
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Lowder (2-1) got the win Saturday against the Pirates, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out four over five scoreless innings.
Lowder worked in and out of trouble Saturday, including a bases-loaded jam in the fifth to close out his day. The rookie right-hander has now kept opponents off the scoreboard in three of his five career starts. The seventh overall pick in the 2023 draft lowered his ERA to 1.40 over his first 25.2 innings.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Saddled with tough-luck loss
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Lowder (1-2) took the loss Sunday, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk across 5.1 innings against the Twins. He struck out five.
Lowder entered the sixth with a one-run lead but was pulled after having allowed two batters to reach base with one out in the inning. Each of those baserunners later came around to score, saddling Lowder with two additional earned runs and handing him a tough-luck defeat. The 22-year-old rookie has been highly effective across four starts since earning the call from Triple-A, having allowed just one earned run prior to the three runs allowed Sunday. An encouraging trend is that he's also kept the walks in check, having allowed just one over his last two starts after allowing eight over his first two appearances. He's currently set up to make his next start in a home matchup against the Pirates.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Strong again in first win
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Lowder (1-1) allowed five hits and struck out three without walking a batter over five shutout innings to earn the win over the Cardinals on Tuesday.
Lowder continues to impress in the majors, having allowed just one run over 15.1 innings across his first three starts. He showed improvement in his one weak spot by issuing zero walks Tuesday after walking four batters in each of his first two outings. The right-hander is now at a 0.59 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 12:8 K:BB. He's tentatively projected for a road start versus the Twins this weekend.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Added to roster ahead of debut
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The Reds selected Lowder's contract from Triple-A Louisville on Friday.
Lowder is set to make his major-league debut in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Brewers. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, Lowder has collected a 3.64 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 113:24 K:BB over 108.2 innings across three levels in 2024 and just made his Triple-A debut last week. He's now set for his major-league debut and should be given an opportunity to stick in the Reds' rotation for the remainder of the season.
