No. 2 prospect Lowder's rehab moves to Triple-A

CINCINNATI -- Pitcher Rhett Lowder's rehab assignment has moved up a couple of levels. The Reds' No. 2 prospect's third start in the Minors was scheduled for Friday for Triple-A Louisville, but the scheduled contest at Indianapolis was postponed due to weather, moving Lowder's appearance to one of the games of a doubleheader on Saturday.

Lowder, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline at No. 31 overall, has been out since feeling some elbow issues before Spring Training. Officially listed on the injured list with a right forearm strain, the right-hander has a 9.00 ERA through his first two starts -- totaling six innings.

The rehab assignment began on May 6 with the ACL Reds. In that game -- pitching opposite of rehabbing Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw -- Lowder threw three innings with two runs allowed, four hits, no walks and five strikeouts while throwing 39 pitches.

On Sunday with High-A Dayton, Lowder gave up five runs (four earned) and five hits over three innings with one walk and five strikeouts. He threw 63 pitches.

“I think we wanted to get him to a point where, one, you don’t want to start that clock too soon," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "He’s going to be out to about 90 pitches pretty soon. You want to balance it. When a kid is in his Spring Training and you send him right straight to Triple-A, guys are in midseason form. You want to kind of let him work into it. We thought this was the best way.”

There is no clear timetable for when the Reds might activate Lowder, who is among four starting pitchers working their way back.

The Reds are currently without rotation ace Hunter Greene, who is out with a strained right groin. Veteran starter Wade Miley, who was signed to a Minor League contract in February after undergoing 2024 Tommy John surgery on his left elbow with the Brewers, was activated from the 7-day IL on Thursday.

Miley made his debut for Louisville in Thursday's 7-4 loss to Indianapolis. He gave up three runs -- all in the first inning -- with six hits, no walks and two strikeouts over three innings.

Right-handed starter Carson Spiers, out since April 20 with a right shoulder impingement, is currently working out and throwing at the team's complex in Goodyear, Ariz.