Alright, so I’ve been wanting to jot down some thoughts on this Rhett Lowder situation for a bit. It’s been quite the journey, just watching this kid, you know? My “practice,” if you wanna call it that, has really just been keeping a close eye on his development, right from his Wake Forest days.
How I Started Tracking Him
I remember first hearing the buzz about him when he was pitching for Wake Forest. You hear names thrown around all the time, but something about the consistency and the way folks talked about his stuff made me sit up and take notice. So, I made a point to catch some of his college games when I could. It wasn’t anything super formal, just me, my couch, and trying to see what the hype was about. And honestly, he was impressive. He had this poise on the mound that you don’t always see in college guys.
The Draft and Minors – A Quick Ride
Then the draft came, and the Reds picked him up. I thought, “Okay, interesting landing spot.” From there, it felt like he was on a rocket. My process was pretty simple: check box scores, read scouting reports when they popped up, and watch any highlights I could find. It’s like, one minute he’s drafted, and the next, he’s just flying through the Minor League levels. I recall seeing notes about him hitting Triple-A and thinking, “Wow, this kid isn’t messing around.” They weren’t kidding when they said he was on the “express lane.”
The Call-Up and What I Saw
And then, bam, the call-up to the MLB. That was exciting. I made sure to watch his debut. You always wonder how a prospect will handle the big stage. What I’ve been seeing, and what the data backs up, is his reliance on that Sinker, which sits around 92mph, and his Fourseam Fastball, a bit harder at 94mph. He’s not just a two-pitch guy though. I’ve definitely seen him mix in a Slider, usually around 85mph, and a Changeup that’s pretty decent too, clocking in near 87mph. It’s that mix that I think has made him effective. My “practice” here was just watching his starts, seeing how he sequenced those pitches, how hitters reacted. It’s fascinating, really, to see a young pitcher work.
- Sinker: A real workhorse for him.
- Fourseam Fastball: Good velocity, sets up other stuff.
- Slider: Mixes it in well.
- Changeup: Keeps hitters off balance.
The Unfortunate News
Then, just as things were getting really interesting, the news dropped. He had to leave a rehab start, and then I read he was diagnosed with a left oblique strain. Man, that’s a tough break. I saw reports saying it was a “fairly significant oblique injury,” and they were still looking over the MRI results. You just hate to see that, especially for a young guy who’s just made it to the show and is trying to establish himself. It’s a reminder of how tough this game can be on a player’s body.
My Takeaway from Following His Journey
So, this whole “practice” of following Rhett Lowder, from Wake Forest to the Reds, has been a bit of a rollercoaster. It’s been a great example of talent and hard work paying off with that quick ascent. But it’s also a stark reminder of the physical challenges and setbacks that are just part of professional sports. You get invested in these players’ stories, you see the potential, and you just hope for the best for them. For now, it’s a waiting game to see how he recovers. But keeping up with his journey so far has been a pretty engaging “project” for me as a fan.
