Brandon Lowe
Position: 2B
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 190 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
Born: 07/06/1994
College: University of Maryland
Drafted: 3rd Rd., 87th Overall, 2015 (Rays)
How Acquired: Trade (with Rays and Astros)
Bonus: $697,500
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: N/A
Overview
Lowe spent over seven seasons with Tampa Bay as a power-hitting second baseman. He’s a left-handed pull hitter who makes a lot of hard contact, which should work well in PNC Park. He’s not a patient hitter, chasing out of the zone a lot, so he tends to strike out and doesn’t walk much. For his career, Lowe has had a large platoon split, putting up an .840 OPS against RHPs and .695 against LHPs. At this stage, his speed is below average. For most of his career, the defensive metrics showed him to be about average or a little below at second, but in 2025 he dropped off sharply. Statcast rated his range in the bottom percentile and his arm isn’t good. He’s played a little in the outfield corners, but not since 2021. Lowe has had a lot of trouble with injuries of various sorts, including back problems, although those didn’t recur in 2025. In seven seasons in the majors, he’s topped 109 games played only twice. The Pirates obtained Lowe in a three-team trade after the 2025 season.
2016-18
Lowe mashed his way to the majors quickly. He skipped short season ball entirely and spent 2016 in low A. He didn’t do a lot there, batting 248/357/343, but the next year, in the pitching-dominated Florida State League, he hit 311/403/524 with 34 doubles and nine home runs in 94 games. He had a good K rate of 18% and drew a lot of walks. The Rays moved Lowe up to AA for 24 games and he had a lot more trouble there, with a 2:26 BB:K.
Lowe went back to AA in 2018 and put up big numbers, hitting 291/400/508 with much better walk and K numbers over 54 games. The Rays promoted him to AAA and he hit even better in 46 games, 304/380/615. Between the two levels, he hit 22 home runs. He got called up to the majors in early August and hit 233/324/450 with six home runs in 43 games. He struck out more in the majors, with a 26% K rate.
2019-21
Lowe’s first three full seasons in the majors have been his three best. He didn’t exactly get in a full season in 2019, as he missed nearly half the season with shin bone bruises. In the 82 games he played, he hit 270/336/514 with 17 home runs. His K rate was a very high 35%. In the shortened 2020 season, Lowe hit 269/362/554 with 14 home runs.
In 2022, Lowe set a lot of career highs: games (149), doubles (31), home runs (39), runs (97) and RBIs (99). His K rate settled to 27%, which is about where it’s been for his career.
2022-24
Lowe ran into injury problems the next three years. In 2022, he played only 65 games, mostly due to back problems. He had his weakest season, with a .691 OPS and eight home runs. In 2023, he again missed time with back trouble and also had his season end about a week early with a fractured patella. He got into 109 games, though, and hit 231/328/443 with 21 home runs. In 2024, Lowe played in 107 games, missing time with oblique injuries. He had a very similar season to 2023, batting 244/311/473, again with 21 home runs.
2025
Lowe mostly stayed healthy in 2025, missing some time with foot or ankle tendonitis, but getting into 134 games. His slash line was very similar to the previous two seasons, at 256/307/477. He hit 31 home runs and drove in 83.
The Pirates acquired Lowe in December, along with Mason Montgomery and Jake Mangum. They gave up Mike Burrows. Lowe becomes a free agent at the end of 2026.
Stats
Transactions
June 9, 2015: Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 3rd round, 87th overall pick; signed on June 25.
August 4, 2018: Contract purchased by the Tampa Bay Rays.
December 19, 2025: Traded by the Tampa Bay Rays with Mason Montgomery and Jake Mangum to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-team trade in which the Pirates sent Mike Burrows to the Houston Astros and the Astros sent Jacob Melton and Anderson Brito to the Rays.