Nathaniel Lowe Bio
David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. (born July 7, 1995) is an American professional baseball first baseman. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, and Boston Red Sox, and currently plays for the Cincinnati Reds. He made his MLB debut in 2019 with the Rays. Across his career, Lowe has been recognized as a 2023 World Series champion, a 2022 American League Silver Slugger Award winner, and a 2023 AL Gold Glove Award winner.
Known for his plate discipline and defensive reliability at first base, Lowe has built a reputation as a steady middle-of-the-order presence. He is the younger brother of outfielder Josh Lowe, and his family background in both baseball and military service has shaped his path to the major leagues.
Early Life and Background
David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. was born on July 7, 1995, in Marietta, Georgia. He grew up in the Atlanta suburbs and attended Pope High School in Marietta, where he developed his baseball skills alongside his academic interests. At Pope, Lowe also played upright bass in the school orchestra and jazz bands, demonstrating a well-rounded range of talents outside of athletics.
Lowe comes from a family with deep roots in both baseball and military service. His father, David Lowe Sr., was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 1986 MLB draft but chose instead to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. David Sr. served as a naval aviator and career fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, instilling discipline and a strong work ethic in his sons. His older brother, Josh Lowe, also pursued a professional baseball career, creating a competitive environment that helped shape Nathaniel’s early development.
Path to Baseball
After graduating from Pope High School, Lowe enrolled at Mercer University, where he played college baseball for the Mercer Bears during the 2014 season. Seeking more playing opportunities and competition, he transferred to St. Johns River State College for the 2015 season. Lowe then transferred again to Mississippi State University, joining the Mississippi State Bulldogs for the 2016 season.
His performance with the Bulldogs that year was significant enough to earn him recognition as a second-team All-American by Louisville Slugger. This strong college showing positioned him as a legitimate prospect heading into the MLB draft.
Nathaniel Lowe Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Lowe in the 13th round, with the 390th overall pick, of the 2016 MLB draft. He signed with the organization and made his professional debut with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the Low-A New York-Penn League, batting .300/.382/.437 with four home runs and 40 RBI in 67 games. The following season, he played for both the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Single-A Midwest League and the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the High-A Florida State League, hitting .274 with seven home runs and 59 RBI across 115 games.
In 2018, Lowe opened the season with Charlotte before earning a midseason promotion to the Montgomery Biscuits of the Double-A Southern League. He was also selected to represent the Rays in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game. Later that August, the Rays promoted him to the Durham Bulls of the Triple-A International League. Lowe was named to the 2018 MLB Pipeline team of the year after hitting .330/.416/.568 with 27 home runs and 102 RBI in 130 games across the three levels.
Tampa Bay Rays (2019–2020)
The Rays promoted Lowe to the major leagues for the first time on April 29, 2019. On July 5 of that year, he hit his first major league home run against the New York Yankees, and on July 13, he recorded his first multi-home run game. During the shortened 2020 season, Lowe appeared in 21 games for the Rays, slashing .224/.316/.433 with four home runs and 11 RBI in 76 at-bats.
Texas Rangers Breakthrough (2021–2024)
On December 10, 2020, the Rays traded Lowe to the Texas Rangers as part of a package that included Jake Guenther and Carl Chester, in exchange for Heriberto Hernández, Osleivis Basabe, and Alexander Ovalles. In his first full season with Texas in 2021, he played 157 games and hit .264/.357/.415/.771 with 18 home runs and 72 RBI.
The 2022 season was a defining one for Lowe. On June 15, 2022, he became the first player to strike out in two immaculate innings in one game versus the Houston Astros, a historic event that also marked the first time more than one immaculate inning was thrown on the same date in major league history. He finished 2022 hitting .302/.358/.492/.851 with 27 home runs and 76 RBI, earning the 2022 American League Silver Slugger Award for first basemen.
In 2023, Lowe helped lead the Rangers to a World Series championship, their first in franchise history. He played 161 games, hitting .262/.360/.414/.775 with 17 home runs and 82 RBI, and won the American League Gold Glove Award for first base. In 2024, he played 140 games for Texas, batting .265/.361/.401 with 16 home runs and 69 RBI.
Washington Nationals Era (2025)
On December 22, 2024, the Rangers traded Lowe to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Robert Garcia. His salary for 2025 was set at $10.3 million through the arbitration process. On June 21, 2025, Lowe hit his 100th career home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers off pitcher Dustin May. On August 13, he hit his first career grand slam against the Kansas City Royals, but one day later was designated for assignment following Dylan Crews’ activation from the injured list. In 119 appearances for Washington, Lowe slashed .216/.292/.373 with 16 home runs and 68 RBI before being placed on release waivers on August 16.
Boston Red Sox Era (2025)
On August 18, 2025, the Boston Red Sox signed Lowe to a one-year major league contract. He made 34 appearances for Boston, batting .280/.370/.420 with two home runs and 16 RBI. Lowe was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on November 18 and was non-tendered on November 21, becoming a free agent.
Cincinnati Reds Era (2026–Present)
On February 13, 2026, Lowe signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. On March 23, the Reds selected his contract after he made the team’s Opening Day roster. He currently wears No. 31 for Cincinnati.
Notable Events and Milestones
Lowe’s most historic moment came on June 15, 2022, when he struck out in two immaculate innings during a single game against the Houston Astros, a feat never before accomplished in major league history. He also became a 2023 World Series champion with the Texas Rangers and earned both a Silver Slugger Award and a Gold Glove Award in consecutive seasons. On June 21, 2025, he joined the 100-career-home-run club with a homer off Dustin May of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Nathaniel Lowe Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Lowe’s family has a long-standing connection to baseball and the U.S. military. His father, David Lowe Sr., was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 1986 MLB draft but chose to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, where he became a naval aviator and served as a career fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy for 20 years. His older brother, Josh Lowe, is also an MLB player, and the two were teammates on both the Bowling Green Hot Rods and Charlotte Stone Crabs before reaching the majors. Although they were both in the Tampa Bay Rays organization at the same time, they did not share a Major League roster.
Personal Life
Prior to the 2021 MLB season, Lowe was commonly known as Nate Lowe. After Bally Sports Southwest referred to him as Nate in a birthday tweet, his mother requested that he be known professionally as Nathaniel Lowe. The name change reflected his family’s preference and has stuck throughout his career since.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was one of transition for Nathaniel Lowe. He began the year with the Washington Nationals after being traded from Texas in December 2024, with his salary set at $10.3 million through arbitration. He reached a major career milestone on June 21, 2025, hitting his 100th career home run off Dustin May of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Later in the summer, he hit his first career grand slam against the Kansas City Royals on August 13.
Despite those highlights, Lowe’s time in Washington ended abruptly. Following Dylan Crews’ activation from the injured list, Lowe was designated for assignment on August 14 and placed on release waivers on August 16. In 119 appearances for the Nationals, he slashed .216/.292/.373 with 16 home runs and 68 RBI.
The Boston Red Sox signed Lowe to a one-year major league contract on August 18, 2025, giving him a fresh start down the stretch. He appeared in 34 games for Boston, batting .280/.370/.420 with two home runs and 16 RBI, showing improved production at the plate. However, the Red Sox designated him for assignment on November 18 and non-tendered him on November 21, making him a free agent heading into the next chapter of his career.
