Jed Carlson Lowrie (born April 17, 1984) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). In addition to the Astros, Lowrie has played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics.
Lowrie's pre-season grand slam on April 4, 2009, was the first major league home run at Citi Field.[6] During the 2009 regular season, Lowrie appeared in five games for Boston before landing on the 15-day disabled list with a left wrist sprain on April 13 (retroactive to April 12). On April 21, the switch-hitter underwent an ulnar styloid excision and arthroscopic ligament repair on his left wrist performed by Dr. Donald Sheridan which landed him on the 60-day disabled list. Lowrie began a minor league rehab assignment on June 21 and on July 8 the Red Sox activated him from the 60-day DL. Lowrie came off the DL July 18.[7] However, on August 8, he was placed on the disabled list again with ulnar neuritis in his left wrist.[8] On September 8, he was re-activated from the DL when the Red Sox expanded their 40-man roster. In his first game back against the Blue Jays in Toronto he hit a homer batting right-handed. On October 4, he hit his first career grand slam against the Cleveland Indians.Lowrie was called up to replace Julio Lugo when he went on the DL. On August 1, 2008, in teammate Jason Bay's first game on the Red Sox, Lowrie hit a game winning infield single in the 12th inning to knock in Bay with the decisive run and upend the Oakland Athletics, 2–1.[3] Lowrie was responsible for the other Red Sox run in that game, as a sacrifice fly in the second inning allowed Bay to score from third. On August 24, he hit his second home run of the season, a game-winner, as the Sox won 6–5.[4] He committed no errors in 49 games played at shortstop during the regular season,[5] and played regularly in the 2008 postseason as one of Boston's two starting shortstops. Lowrie hit his first major league home run againsit the Twins inside the Metrodome. On October 6, 2008, Lowrie drove in the series-winning run against theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Entering 2011 needing to contend with shortstop Marco Scutaro for the starting shortstop position in the Red Sox lineup, Lowrie began the season on a tear, hitting .516 through his first 31 at-bats. On April 18, 2011, he went 4-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs. On August 16, 2011, Jed Lowrie started a triple play with help of Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez against the Tampa Bay Rays.[10]In 2010, Lowrie suffered from mononucleosis during the season. He made his season debut on July 21, 2010 against the Oakland Athletics. On August 21, 2010, he hit a walk-off home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the 11th inning off of Casey Janssen. He also made his debut as a first baseman during the 2010 season, initially as a late-innings replacement for Mike Lowell; the Red Sox plan to give him opportunities to start at first base in the future.[9] During the final weeks of the season, he had the first multi-home run games of his career, hitting two home runs against the Seattle Mariners on September 14, followed by two more home runs against the Yankees in the season's final game. Although having less than 200 PA's during the 2010 season, Lowrie's productivity was still substantial; his .904 OPS ranked behind only Troy Tulowitzki among all MLB shortstops.
Lowrie was initially expected to play second base, but due to the struggles and injury of Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima, Lowrie was placed at shortstop, and has been the regular starter there throughout the 2013 season.The Astros on February 4, 2013 traded Lowrie and Fernando Rodriguez to the Oakland Athletics for Chris Carter, Brad Peacock, and Max Stassi.[14] The trade reunited him with former Red Sox teammate Josh Reddick.
Early life
Lowrie was born on April 17, 1984, in Salem, Oregon, and later attended North Salem High School.[1] In 2004, while playing for theStanford University Cardinal baseball team, Lowrie earned Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year honors. He was a First Team All-American in 2004 and 2005. At Stanford, future major league outfielders Sam Fuld, John Mayberry Jr., and Carlos Quentin were among Lowrie's teammates.[2]
Professional career
Minor leagues
From 2005 through 2007, Lowrie played for Boston at three different minor league levels. During the 2007 season, he made theEastern League All-Star team, was named the Portland Sea Dogs Most Valuable Player, and the Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Year as well. He was promoted to the Pawtucket Red Sox of the Class AAA International League late in the season.
Boston Red Sox
Lowrie was called up from the minor leagues on April 10, 2008 after Mike Lowell was placed on the disabled list (DL). He made his debut on April 15, driving home three runs in a 5–3 victory in Cleveland.[citation needed]
Lowrie's pre-season grand slam on April 4, 2009, was the first major league home run at Citi Field.[6] During the 2009 regular season, Lowrie appeared in five games for Boston before landing on the 15-day disabled list with a left wrist sprain on April 13 (retroactive to April 12). On April 21, the switch-hitter underwent an ulnar styloid excision and arthroscopic ligament repair on his left wrist performed by Dr. Donald Sheridan which landed him on the 60-day disabled list. Lowrie began a minor league rehab assignment on June 21 and on July 8 the Red Sox activated him from the 60-day DL. Lowrie came off the DL July 18.[7] However, on August 8, he was placed on the disabled list again with ulnar neuritis in his left wrist.[8] On September 8, he was re-activated from the DL when the Red Sox expanded their 40-man roster. In his first game back against the Blue Jays in Toronto he hit a homer batting right-handed. On October 4, he hit his first career grand slam against the Cleveland Indians.Lowrie was called up to replace Julio Lugo when he went on the DL. On August 1, 2008, in teammate Jason Bay's first game on the Red Sox, Lowrie hit a game winning infield single in the 12th inning to knock in Bay with the decisive run and upend the Oakland Athletics, 2–1.[3] Lowrie was responsible for the other Red Sox run in that game, as a sacrifice fly in the second inning allowed Bay to score from third. On August 24, he hit his second home run of the season, a game-winner, as the Sox won 6–5.[4] He committed no errors in 49 games played at shortstop during the regular season,[5] and played regularly in the 2008 postseason as one of Boston's two starting shortstops. Lowrie hit his first major league home run againsit the Twins inside the Metrodome. On October 6, 2008, Lowrie drove in the series-winning run against theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Entering 2011 needing to contend with shortstop Marco Scutaro for the starting shortstop position in the Red Sox lineup, Lowrie began the season on a tear, hitting .516 through his first 31 at-bats. On April 18, 2011, he went 4-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs. On August 16, 2011, Jed Lowrie started a triple play with help of Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez against the Tampa Bay Rays.[10]In 2010, Lowrie suffered from mononucleosis during the season. He made his season debut on July 21, 2010 against the Oakland Athletics. On August 21, 2010, he hit a walk-off home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the 11th inning off of Casey Janssen. He also made his debut as a first baseman during the 2010 season, initially as a late-innings replacement for Mike Lowell; the Red Sox plan to give him opportunities to start at first base in the future.[9] During the final weeks of the season, he had the first multi-home run games of his career, hitting two home runs against the Seattle Mariners on September 14, followed by two more home runs against the Yankees in the season's final game. Although having less than 200 PA's during the 2010 season, Lowrie's productivity was still substantial; his .904 OPS ranked behind only Troy Tulowitzki among all MLB shortstops.
Houston Astros
On December 14, 2011, he was traded along with Kyle Weiland to the Houston Astros for reliever Mark Melancon.[11][12]
Lowrie was about to head to an arbitration hearing, but he and the Astros agreed on a one-year, $1.15 million deal with bonuses for performance and awards on February 8, 2012. He filed for $1.5 million, but the Astros countered with $900,000. Had Lowrie gone to a hearing, he couldn't have possibly had bonuses in his contract.[13]
Oakland Athletics
Lowrie was initially expected to play second base, but due to the struggles and injury of Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima, Lowrie was placed at shortstop, and has been the regular starter there throughout the 2013 season.The Astros on February 4, 2013 traded Lowrie and Fernando Rodriguez to the Oakland Athletics for Chris Carter, Brad Peacock, and Max Stassi.[14] The trade reunited him with former Red Sox teammate Josh Reddick.
Lowrie continued as Oakland's starting shortstop during the 2014 season. On August 4, Lowrie broke his right index finger while fielding a ground ball—after attempting to play through the injury, Lowrie went to the disabled list on August 15. He was hitting a career-low .238 with 5 home runs.[15]
Second stint with Astros
The Astros announced on December 15, 2014, that they had agreed to a three-year contract with Lowrie. There is a club option for a fourth year. The deal could be worth as much as $28 million. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said that Lowrie fit well with one of the main objectives for the 2015 Astros, which was to improve the defensive skills of the team's infield.[16]
Some teams had explored signing Lowrie to play second base or third base. The Astros had a need at his preferred position, shortstop, though minor league prospect and shortstop Carlos Correa has a chance to make the major league team at some point during the 2015 season. Astros leadership has said that Correa will stay at shortstop; Astros beat writer Evan Drellich predicted that Lowrie might move to third base if Correa were called up to the major leagues.
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