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Lowder allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out four over two innings in Saturday's spring game against Cleveland.
Lowder was the second of three pitchers competing for the Reds' fifth spot in the rotation used in their Cactus League opener. He followed Chase Burns (two scoreless innings, three walks) and was followed by Julian Aguiar (two innings, one run). For Lowder, who missed all of 2025 with forearm and oblique injuries, this was his first game action in a big-league setting since September of 2024. The right-hander threw 37 pitches (23 strikes).
Lowder threw a bullpen session Monday that manager Terry Francona described as "very polished," Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Lowder showed no rust after missing all of 2025 with a forearm injury followed by an oblique strain. The right-hander was able to have a normal offseason, which included work in the Arizona Fall League. Lowder's in the mix for the final rotation spot along with Julian Aguiar, Chase Burns and Brandon Williamson.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Shows promise in AFL
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Lowder's velocity returned to the 93-95 mph range during short outings in the Arizona Fall League last year, Keith Law of The Athletic reports.
Lowder missed all of the 2025 season initially with a forearm injury, which he rehabbed, before a strained oblique muscle kept him off the mound until the AFL. In addition to a velocity bounce-back, the right-hander showed a plus changeup and a sharper slider that missed bats. Lowder enters spring training healthy and will compete for a spot in the rotation.
Lowder (oblique/forearm) has made three starts for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
The Reds are being careful with Lowder, who has thrown two innings in all a three of his outings. The 2023 first-round selection allowed two runs on four hits while striking out six with zero walks. The right-hander is coming off a lost season due to his injuries and pitched a total of 9.1 innings in rehab outings during 2025. The club believes Lowder will have a normal offseason and compete for a rotation spot in spring training.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Receives clean bill of health
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Lowder (oblique/forearm) was activated from the 60-day injured list Monday, per MLB's transactions log.
Lowder made it through a brief scare in his rehab as it was taking him a bit longer than expected to recover between outings, but MRI results returned negative and he's since been activated. He worked only two innings during his last rehab appearance Sept. 13 against Triple-A Toledo, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Reds roll him out for a relief appearance or two during the final week of the regular season.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: MRI on shoulder is negative
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Lowder (oblique/forearm) recently underwent an MRI on his right shoulder that came back negative, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Reds manager Terry Francona noted that Lowder -- who hasn't pitched since Sept. 13 -- was having trouble recovering in between appearances. While imaging came back clean, Lowder's rehab will be slowed, which effectively ends his season. He's been limited to just five rehab appearances this season due to forearm, oblique and now shoulder issues.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Next rehab outing scheduled
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Lowder (oblique/forearm) will make his next rehab start Friday for Triple-A Louisville, MLB.com reports.
Lowder began a rehab assignment Saturday, throwing 34 pitches over two innings and allowing one run for Louisville. Per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Reds manager Terry Francona has been non-committal about Lowder returning from the 60-day injured list before the end of the regular season to aid the team in its bid for a wild-card spot, but that could change if he performs well in his upcoming rehab start. Even if he comes off the IL for the final week of the season, Lowder would likely be deployed out of the bullpen.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Works two innings in rehab game
Rotowire
Lowder (oblique/forearm) allowed one earned run on two hits and struck out two over two innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Saturday. He also hit a batter.
Lowder is expected to make one rehab start with Louisville before the minor-league season wraps up, but the right-hander may not be activated from the 60-day injured list before the end of the regular season. Though he appears to be in line for a normal offseason of preparation, Lowder is still expected to pitch in the Arizona Fall League to make up for the development time he lost out on in 2025. He's spent the entire season on the injured list, first due to a right forearm strain suffered in spring training before he was shut down again after straining his left oblique during a rehab appearance with Louisville on May 22.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Beginning assignment Saturday
Rotowire
Lowder (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
Lowder has sat out the entire season while working his way back from injuries to his forearm and, more recently, his oblique. The Reds haven't ruled out a late-season return for the 23-year-old righty, though he would need a relatively quick rehab assignment to have time to make an appearance for the Reds before the end of the season.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Late-season return not ruled out
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Reds manager Terry Francona said Sunday that Lowder (oblique) could return from the 60-day injured list before the end of the season, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Lowder has been shelved all season, first with a forearm injury and then with a severe oblique strain, but he's been throwing off a mound and is scheduled for two more bullpen sessions Tuesday and Friday before the Reds map out the next steps in his recovery. Francona suggested Sunday that the most important thing for Lowder is to enter the offseason knowing he's healthy, but the young righty still has a chance to help the big club late in the campaign.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Begins throwing program
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Lowder (forearm/oblique) threw a side session earlier this week and is expected to do so again Friday in front of team staff when the Reds are in Arizona, MLB.com reports.
The report indicates Lowder's side session went well, which is encouraging news for the team's 2024 first-round draft pick. The right-hander is not expected to pitch for Cincinnati or any of its affiliates this season but is expected to have a normal offseason, which will include the Arizona Fall League.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Gets clearance for mound work
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Lowder (forearm/oblique) has been cleared to begin throwing from a mound after an MRI on his oblique came back negative, MLB.com reports.
Lowder is scheduled to throw in the bullpen Sunday. The right-hander first experienced a forearm injury in spring training, then developed an oblique strain while rehabbing in May. The Reds expects him to have a normal offseason, but it's unclear how missing an entire season of development may impact his ability to compete for a spot in the Reds' rotation next spring.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Initiates throwing program
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Lowder (forearm/oblique) is tentatively scheduled to throw from a bullpen mound Aug. 17, MLB.com reports.
Lowder began a throwing program this week with the goal of being available to throw in the Arizona Fall League. The organization believes the right-hander should be set up for a normal offseason.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Targeting return for Fall baseball
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Reds manager Terry Francona said Lowder (forearm/oblique) is doing rotational stuff and is expected to start throwing this week, MLB.com reports.
Francona added that Lowder is going to have a "pretty big buildup." The organization is hopeful the 23-year-old right-hander will be available for the Arizona Fall League.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Still no baseball activity
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Lowder (forearm/oblique) continues to rehab in Arizona but has not yet participated in more advanced baseball activity, MLB.com reports.
Lowder endured elbow soreness and a forearm injury during spring training before an oblique injury paused his rehab assignment in May. The oblique is the issue now, and it threatens to scrap a year of development for the 23-year-old right-hander.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Reports to Arizona
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Lowder (forearm/oblique) reported to the Reds' complex in Goodyear (Ariz.) on Wednesday to begin a rehab program, MLB.com reports.
Lowder, who was rehabbing a forearm injury, had a rehab assignment paused when he incurred an oblique injury. The focus of his rehab is now on the oblique.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Reds transferred Lowder (forearm/oblique) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for lefty Wade Miley, who was signed Wednesday. Lowder originally went on the 15-day IL with a right forearm strain but more recently suffered a left oblique strain while on a rehab assignment. The righty remains shut down with the oblique issue, and it's unclear when he'll be ready to resume his rehab assignment.
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