WEST SACRAMENTO – It would all have to fall into place perfectly, but the Reds could have one more reinforcement available to their pitching staff by the end of the season – just in case.
Starting pitcher Rhett Lowder, who has yet to pitch in the big leagues this season because of a right forearm strain and left oblique strain, started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Saturday. Lowder threw 34 pitches over two innings and allowed one earned run, two hits with no walks, a hit batter and two strikeouts.
“There was some thought that if his first inning was long, they would limit it to one," manager Terry Francona said after getting the report from Louisville. "I think he was kind of excited. There was some adrenaline with some base runners, things as you’re rehabbing that’s hard to simulate. That’s a good step for him that he pitched in a game.”
Lowder, who is ranked as the No. 2 prospect on the Reds and No. 61 overall by MLB Pipeline, hadn't pitched in a game since straining his oblique on May 22 while with Louisville during his first rehab assignment. At the time, he was close to being ready for activation from the forearm strain.
The Reds, of course, are battling for the final National League Wild Card berth with just over two weeks remaining in the regular season. Cincinnati just got two pitchers back – Chase Burns and Graham Ashcraft – for its bullpen on Friday when they were activated from the injured list.
It'd be a tall order to have Lowder contribute in what could be crucial regular season or potential postseason games after not being in the big leagues since the final month of the 2024 season, when he had a 1.17 ERA in six starts.
But nothing is being ruled out. It's also possible that Lowder could get used in the Arizona Fall League if he doesn't return to the Reds this season.
“I think the best way we can look at it is trying to get him ready to pitch," Francona said. "One, it could help us. Two, that’s probably the best way for him to kind of get back to being – whenever his season is over – that will be really good if he knows that, ‘I’m good to go.’”