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Angry? Frustrated? Nah, Nate Lowe is just glad to be back and ready to hit

John Romano: The Rays rookie was sent back to Triple A three times this season but came through with a big home run Sunday in his first game back again.
 
Rookie Nate Lowe (35) points up while crossing the plate after hitting a two-run homer to put the Rays ahead of the Indians for good in the fourth inning of Sunday's 8-2 victory. Lowe now has six homers in his first 105 big-league at-bats. ALLIE GOULDING | Times photo
Rookie Nate Lowe (35) points up while crossing the plate after hitting a two-run homer to put the Rays ahead of the Indians for good in the fourth inning of Sunday's 8-2 victory. Lowe now has six homers in his first 105 big-league at-bats. ALLIE GOULDING | Times photo [ ALLIE GOULDING | Times ]
Published Sept. 2, 2019|Updated Sept. 2, 2019

ST. PETERSBURG — The kid didn’t sulk. That’s important to remember.

He may have grumbled. Along the way, he may have said a few things better left unsaid. But mostly he just packed his bats and went back to the minors to prove all over again that he belonged in the big leagues.

And when it came time to reintroduce himself to the Rays on Sunday, he did it with a bang.

Welcome back, Nate Lowe.

For the fourth time.

The Rays rookie first baseman/DH picked up where he left off in July with a line-drive homer that got Tampa Bay started on its way to an 8-2 victory to complete a sweep against the Indians, putting them back on top of the American League wild-card standings for the first time in nine days.

“It’s not just home runs or strikeouts with him, and you like seeing that out of a relatively young power hitter,’’ said centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier. “He’s capable of working the count, handling left-handers, hitting the opposite way. He handles himself like he’s been in the league for three or four years already. I’m a big fan of his, always have been. The sky is the limit for him, as far as I’m concerned.’’

Tampa Bay Rays Nate Lowe (35) high fives Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) after Lowe hit a home run in the bottom of the fourth inning against Cleveland Indians on Sunday, Sept. 01, 2019 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. ALLIE GOULDING | Times photo [ ALLIE GOULDING | Times ]

We kind of knew a lot of that already. Lowe was, after all, the Rays’ minor-league player of the year in 2018. And in two abbreviated trips to the majors earlier this year, he hit .263 over 10 games. In his third trip, he hit .313 with five homers and 12 RBIs over 20 games.

When he was sent back for his fourth stint at Triple-A Durham on July 31, Lowe’s on-base/slugging percentage (OPS) in the majors was .875, which trailed only Austin Meadows’ .888 in the Rays’ lineup at that point.

So, yeah, he may have had a gripe. And he kind of hinted at that when talking to reporters after his return to Tampa Bay on Saturday.

But the Rays had other concerns at that time. Their pitching staff was falling apart due to injuries, and they could not devote two roster spots to Lowe and Ji-Man Choi, a pair of left-handed-hitting first basemen, after acquiring right-handed Jesus Aguilar.

Also, they couldn’t send Choi to the minors without risking him to waivers. And as strong as Lowe looked at the plate, he could also be shaky defensively. So though the Rays are less than imposing offensively, it made sense to send Lowe back despite his numbers.

“Front-office decisions are something I can’t control,’’ Lowe said Sunday. “It sucks having to go back and wait, but you have to trust that it’s all going to work out the way it’s supposed to work out. You take faith in the ultimate plan and realize it’s better to keep playing well and taking care of your business rather than going down there and being a cancer in the clubhouse.’’

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When he was sent back to Durham in June, Lowe hit .340 with 26 RBIs in his next 28 games. He wasn’t quite as hot when he was sent back in August, but he still hit .284 with 17 RBIs in 25 games.

Meanwhile, Lowe is hitting .305 with six homers in 105 at-bats in the big leagues.

With the rosters expanding Sunday, Lowe and Choi can now give the Rays two left-handed power hitters at first base and DH against right-handed pitching, while Aguilar and Avisail Garcia can fill those roles against left-handed pitchers.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash has a lot more options at his disposal with rosters expanding on Sept. 1, including two pairs of first base/outfield/DH types against both lefties and righties. ALLIE GOULDING | Times photo [ ALLIE GOULDING | Times ]


“That’s what’s going to make us good and give us our best chance to continue winning games. We use the whole roster,’’ said manager Kevin Cash. “Some (teams) are built with nine guys and a couple of pitchers. We’re built with close to 40 guys, and we’ll use them all.’’

This time there is no looking over his shoulder. The roster crunch is no longer a concern, and the minor-league season will soon be over.

The only thing Lowe needs to worry about is carrying his share of the offense.

And that’s never been a problem.

John Romano can be reached at jromano@tampabay.com. Follow @romano_tbtimes.