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TAMPA — As good as Rays outfielder Josh Lowe looked, and as well as he played during spring training, he said repeatedly that the most important thing this year was that he was healthy.
Well, that lasted until his second at-bat Friday.
Lowe was visibly pained, and obviously frustrated, as he singled to center and immediately indicated to the Rays bench there was an issue. The team called it right oblique discomfort, and it is expected to send him to the injured list.
“The guy put together as good spring as anybody, and I’m confident he’s going to miss some time here,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We’ll have more information probably (Saturday), after he goes through an MRI.”
Lowe, expected to play a key role this season, was understandably despondent after the Rays’ 3-2 season-opening walkoff win.
“It’s super frustrating,” he said. “I’ve done that so many times this spring, where I swung at that pitch and felt fine, and then, for some reason, for it to happen (Friday), I don’t really have words for it.
“So I’m pretty beat up. I mean, it sucks, but we’re going to get through it.”
Lowe dealt with right oblique issues last year, sidelined from early spring training into early May, and then less than a month later for another week. He said Friday’s issue was in a different spot.
“You just feel for him,” Cash said. “Josh battled injuries for the better part of six months last year, and then to have a healthy spring, a dominant spring, and then (second) at-bat in he’s out of the game. I can’t imagine what’s going through his head.
“We’ll support him, and he’ll get back out here eventually and help us win.”
If Lowe is headed to the IL, a potential replacement would be Jake Mangum, who was scratched from Triple-A Durham’s season-opening lineup Friday.
This story will be updated.
• • •
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Well, that lasted until his second at-bat Friday.
Lowe was visibly pained, and obviously frustrated, as he singled to center and immediately indicated to the Rays bench there was an issue. The team called it right oblique discomfort, and it is expected to send him to the injured list.
“The guy put together as good spring as anybody, and I’m confident he’s going to miss some time here,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We’ll have more information probably (Saturday), after he goes through an MRI.”
Lowe, expected to play a key role this season, was understandably despondent after the Rays’ 3-2 season-opening walkoff win.
“It’s super frustrating,” he said. “I’ve done that so many times this spring, where I swung at that pitch and felt fine, and then, for some reason, for it to happen (Friday), I don’t really have words for it.
“So I’m pretty beat up. I mean, it sucks, but we’re going to get through it.”
Lowe dealt with right oblique issues last year, sidelined from early spring training into early May, and then less than a month later for another week. He said Friday’s issue was in a different spot.
“You just feel for him,” Cash said. “Josh battled injuries for the better part of six months last year, and then to have a healthy spring, a dominant spring, and then (second) at-bat in he’s out of the game. I can’t imagine what’s going through his head.
“We’ll support him, and he’ll get back out here eventually and help us win.”
If Lowe is headed to the IL, a potential replacement would be Jake Mangum, who was scratched from Triple-A Durham’s season-opening lineup Friday.
This story will be updated.
• • •
Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.
Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Instagram, X and Facebook.
Continue reading...
