Nathaniel Lowe

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #9 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Once viewed as an organizational player, Lowe transformed himself into a prospect in 2018 after getting into better shape and improving his flexibility in the offseason. He played at three different colleges (Mercer, St. John's River (Fla.) JC and Mississippi State) before joining the Rays as a 13th-round pick in 2016, the same year in which Tampa Bay drafted his brother Josh in the first round. He became the rare Rays prospect to play at three levels in the same season.
  
  Scouting Report: Lowe's improved conditioning wasn't his only tweak. He simplified and shortened a long swing that had always left him vulnerable to fastballs in. Pitchers soon learned that fastballs that used to tie him up turned into home runs. Lowe had always had good pitch recognition, and he had long been able to hit breaking balls and changeups. Getting more pull-oriented and looser at the plate paid off when he squared up more balls. Lowe has plus power to go with an average hit tool. He has to hit as a first baseman who doesn't run well and is a below-average defender.
  
  The Future: Lowe has one season on his résumé in which he has produced, but scouts say that his newfound power and improved swing are no flukes. His plus power is alluring and now that Jake Bauers is traded, his path to a major league role is clearer.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #14 prospect in 2019
  Lowe has the power–20 home runs across two Triple-A seasons consisting of 121 games--but also pure hitting instincts to go with that. He is a big man with a chance to hit for average and power as he works counts well and has the power to make pitchers pay for mistakes. “When he’s on, it’s really fun to see what he can do,” Bulls manager Brady Williams said. “It hasn’t always been easy for him when he has been going up and down but that’s something you have to adjust to.” Lowe has been moved to third base occasionally, but he’s below-average there. More importantly he needs to continue to improve to become an average defender at first.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #15 prospect in 2018
  Lowe started the year with his brother, Josh, in the FSL, but Nathaniel proved very quickly that his bat was far too advanced for the level. Then he did it again at Double-A Montgomery before moving to Triple-A Durham for the last part of the season. Lowe is an offense-first prospect who makes his money with calm, professional approach and at least average power. Lowe changed his approach in 2018, taking more aggressive swings which paid off in vastly improved power production. He led the organization in home runs and RBIs, and finished with best average among Rays minor leaguers at full-season levels. Because he's not an average defender at first base, Lowe is going to have to continue to prove himself at every stop.
• 
  Ranked Southern League #11 prospect in 2018
  Lowe hit just seven home runs in 2017 as a college first baseman at Class A and entered the season better known as the older brother of Josh Lowe, the Rays’ first-round pick in 2016. But he had a transformative year at the plate in 2018 that began at high Class A Charlotte and ended at Triple-A Durham. He hit .330/.416/.568 with 27 home runs and 102 RBIs in 130 games. “He worked really hard on moving his weight around and becoming more athletic,” Montgomery manager Brady Williams said. “He changed his swing to focus on being able to get to fastballs in . . . while still being able to hit offspeed pitches in the zone.” Mission accomplished. Lowe drew raves from SL managers for his adaptability to different pitch types in different parts of the hitting zone. “Only big leaguers can hit like that,” Jackson manager Shelley Duncan said. Scouts laud Lowe’s swing, loose hands and strike-zone management. Those who like him throw plus grades on his hit tool and power, though not all scouts are as optimistic on the latter. He’s a serviceable first baseman who throws well.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #97 prospect in 2019

• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Lowe has the power–20 home runs across two Triple-A seasons consisting of 121 games--but also pure hitting instincts to go with that. He is a big man with a chance to hit for average and power as he works counts well and has the power to make pitchers pay for mistakes. “When he’s on, it’s really fun to see what he can do,” Bulls manager Brady Williams said. “It hasn’t always been easy for him when he has been going up and down but that’s something you have to adjust to.” Lowe has been moved to third base occasionally, but he’s below-average there. More importantly he needs to continue to improve to become an average defender at first.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Once viewed as an organizational player, Lowe transformed himself into a prospect in 2018 after getting into better shape and improving his flexibility in the offseason. He played at three different colleges before joining the Rays as a 13th-round pick in 2016, the same year in which Tampa Bay drafted his brother Josh in the first round. Scouting Report: Lowe’s improved conditioning wasn’t his only tweak. He simplified and shortened a long swing that had always left him vulnerable to fastballs in. Pitchers soon learned that fastballs that used to tie him up turned into home runs. Lowe had always had good pitch recognition, and he had long been able to hit breaking balls and changeups. Getting more pull-oriented and looser at the plate paid off when he squared up more balls. Lowe has plus power to go with an average hit tool. He has to hit as a first baseman who doesn’t run well and is a below-average defender. The Future: Lowe has one season on his résumé in which he has produced, but scouts say that his newfound power and improved swing are no flukes. He currently stands behind Jake Bauers on the Rays’ depth chart, but his plus power is alluring.