Friends in Lowe Places

One of the most exciting parts of the early days of the baseball season is seeing how players can adjust to new teams and situations. One such player who I am paying special attention to is Josh Lowe as he tries to navigate playing for a new squad. And like his fellow Lowe (pronounced differently, I know) in Brandon, he has mashed early for his new club, going 2-for-4, with a 2B, a HR, and 3 RBI. Now, did he take advantage of the Crawford Boxes for his three-run home run? Well, kind of, as it’s out in only about half of MLB ballparks. His double also wasn’t hit with a lot of oomph, though it was a nice example of him using his legs to make something happen.

I really wonder if perhaps we can see some sort of return to form for Lowe. He was a highly regarded prospect who was one of the toolsiest players in a stacked Rays farm system. In 2023, he really burst onto the scene by having a 20-30 season, all while averaging just a hair under .300. He was an absolute dream of a player for people who took a chance on him that year, but unfortunately, the production had plummeted the following seasons with the Rays. There is a bit of a ceiling to chase here, but again, it remains to be seen if he can even get to about 50% of that. Perhaps managers can cash in now on an Angels lineup that seems to routinely overperform in the early stretches of the season. Maybe they can do something more this year. Probably not, but if they do, Lowe would likely be a major part of that. Well, and that other guy.

 

Let’s see how the other hitters did Friday:

Mike Trout (LAA): 3-4, HR, R, RBI, BB. 

If you were to ask Mike Trout if this was one of the best offensive games of his career, he would probably look you right in the eye, chomp down on an apple, and say, “not even close”. Erik Karlsson references aside, it is a testament to Trout’s career that he has had so many games like this (and better), and we really all should be celebrating these moments, as there really haven’t been many players of his caliber in the long history of Major League Baseball. Trout now has two home runs on the season, and these aren’t just getting it over the fence home runs. His bomb today was hit at nearly 110 mph and was a homer in all 30 ballparks, so in other words, just Mike Trout things. Can we please keep this man healthy? We got legacy runs from Jacob deGrom and Byron Buxton last year.

Giancarlo Stanton (NYY): 2-4, HR, R, RBI.

Speaking of legacy players, Giancarlo Stanton is off to a pretty good start to his season. He gave us his first Stantonion blast, a 414-footer that adds another tally to his long list of career homers. It should be mentioned that Stanton’s 2025 feels somewhat understated. Yes, he only played about half the season, but it was great to see his batting average go up to not only respectable levels, but to above-average levels. Obviously, when rostering a player like him, you’re in it for the home runs and all the goodies (RBIs especially) that come with that, but seeing him get on base at a respectable clip was great. I hope that continues, not just for all the fantasy managers out there that have him, but also for his Hall of Fame chances. It’s an outside chance, but he’s inching closer to that 500 home run mark.

Shea Langeliers (ATH): 3-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.

Shea Langeliers is a catcher who we’ve seen consistent improvement at the plate from year after year, something you don’t always get from guys who play behind the dish. If this game gives us any indication of what to expect from him this season, that trend will look to continue. Langeliers was the sole producer for his team in a loss to the Blue Jays, as his two solo homers accounted for both runs they put on the board. It’s impressive to see him do this on the road, as we know that his home ballpark is certainly going to give him home runs, being a minor league park with lots of wind and all.

Kazuma Okamoto (TOR): 2-3, 2 R, BB.

MLB debuts are always fun! Especially when it’s a rookie who was successful overseas. I’ve been really interested to see how Kazuma Okamoto performs, because he’s been viewed as having the higher floor of the two former NPB sluggers. He also joins a squad with a hitting philosophy that can really be the perfect fit for his playstyle, prioritizing putting balls in play. He struck out in his first at-bat, partially due to some great sequencing from Luis Severino. He made the proper adjustments quickly, though, showing patience to draw a walk his next time up, followed by consecutive singles in his next two times up. I have a feeling Toronto has another really great ballplayer on their hands.

Alex Freeland (LAD): 2-3, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI.

This game saw some of the biggest names in the sport facing off at the dish: Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, Corbin Carroll, Mookie Betts, etc. Yet it was a guy that many people may not have heard of who ended up having the most impactful night: second baseman Alex Freeland. The 24-year-old with only a handful of games under his belt has taken that Dodgers second baseman role for now while they deal with injuries, and he’s looking to prove himself a potential fixture of a team that looks to threepeat. Hitting a no-doubt home run, a barrelled double, and getting the game-winning run in the second game of the season against a divisional rival is certainly a good way to make your case for a more full-time gig.

Cole Young (SEA): 1-3, HR, R, 3 RBI.

Speaking of second basemen on stacked teams that fans may not be as familiar with, Cole Young hit a three-run homer last night. It wasn’t a no-doubter, only getting out in about half the ballparks in MLB, but that still is impressive, as cold, damp Seattle in the early Spring can be a difficult place to hit, especially for young players. Young graduated as one of the top prospects in the Mariners farm (an absolutely loaded group) and was lauded in the minors for having solid contact and on-base skills. Home runs like these are just a bonus with him. It will also be interesting to see if he taps into his base-stealing abilities in the majors, as he swiped a few bags here and there in the minor leagues and has a slightly above-average sprint speed. If he’s as advertised at the plate, he’ll get plenty of opportunities.

Ozzie Albies (ATL): 2-4, HR, R, RBI.

Few players need a bounce-back year as much as Ozzie Albies does, especially if his Atlanta squad wants to be competitive. So far, so good. It was interesting to see where he went in fantasy drafts, as the potential is there, as he’s shown the ability to hit home runs, put up a decent average, and steal bases. He’s a bit of a gamble these days, especially when you look at his savant page. If he consistently pulls the ball in the air, he might be one of the better second basemen in the game this season.

Gleyber Torres (DET): 1-2, 2 R, 3 BB.

This one’s for us on-base lovers. Gleyber Torres has been such a fun player with the Tigers, as he’s turned good plate discipline into super-human discipline. His swing decisions have been on point, and it shows here as he put up an .800 OBP. He got a bit tired of walking by the end of the game, so he made sure to turn on a David Morgan inside sinker to add a hit to his collection. Perhaps he was thinking of those in standard category leagues when taking that swing, knowing that it wouldn’t be fair if all the love went to OBP league managers. I like Torres for 2026, especially as a sucker for high-walk players.