When the Cleveland Guardians acquired left-handed hitting slugger Nathaniel Lowe from the Cincinnati Reds right before the trade deadline, they envisioned an above-average hitter with enough power to impact games and the ability to consistently drive in runs in the middle of the lineup.
He started off his Guardians tenure on the right foot, but his performance started to erode with time, and he finished the year with a 77 wRC+ and a .226 batting average as a member of the team, in 43 games. By analyzing the cold, hard numbers, one can easily conclude that Lowe’s stint in Cleveland has been a bitter disappointment, especially when we consider the fact that he posted a 123 wRC+ in Cincinnati.
However, sometimes the analysis should go beyond the box score. Lowe has offered Cleveland veteran leadership, a valuable clubhouse presence, and, above all things, a solid, professional approach to hitting that has resulted in 27 RBI in 43 games with the Guardians.
His manager, Stephen Vogt, is more than happy with Lowe despite the lack of explosive stats.
“[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.”
That’s a very good description of what Lowe has contributed to the Guardians since landing in Cleveland on August 3. He won’t try to do more than he can, but instead, he will do what the game and the specific situation requires.
For example, if there’s a man on third with fewer than two outs and he’s at the plate in a close game, he will try to bring that runner home with a sac fly or at least some solid contact. If the Guardians are down or up by a lot, he will try to draw a walk and make the pitcher work. He knows how to drive in runs, and Cleveland’s lineup needed some stability in the first base position.
Granted, prospect Ralphy Velazquez could have been mashing for the Guardians from that spot, but Vogt wanted a veteran there, and Lowe is as steady as they come despite the low output in Cleveland so far.
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