Brandon Norman Lowe Bio
Brandon Norman Lowe is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays. Lowe made his MLB debut in 2018 and has been named an MLB All-Star in 2019 and 2025. Throughout his career, he has established himself as a power-hitting middle infielder known for his ability to drive in runs and hit for extra bases. He currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife and son.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Norman Lowe was born on July 6, 1994, in Suffolk, Virginia. He attended Nansemond River High School in Suffolk, where he excelled on the baseball diamond. He led Nansemond River to a district championship as a junior and a district title as a senior. During his senior year, Lowe earned first-team all-state, first-team all-region, and first-team all-district honors, establishing himself as one of the top high school players in Virginia.
Following high school, Lowe committed to play college baseball at the University of Maryland, College Park for the Maryland Terrapins. Two days before the first game of his freshman year, Lowe tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, which caused him to be redshirted and miss the entire season. This injury was a significant setback, but he worked diligently to recover and return to the field.
In his redshirt freshman season, Lowe demonstrated his offensive potential by being named third-team All-ACC. He led the Maryland Terrapins in batting average (.348), on-base percentage (.464), and slugging percentage (.464). During his sophomore season, Lowe continued to impress, leading the team in hits, walks, runs, and doubles while finishing second in runs batted in.
Path to Professional Baseball
During the summer of 2014, Lowe played for the Bethesda Big Train in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, where he became the league’s MVP. This performance helped elevate his draft stock heading into the 2015 MLB Draft. However, tragedy struck just two days before the draft when Lowe suffered a broken fibula during the NCAA super regional as the Terrapins faced the Virginia Cavaliers.
Despite the injury, the Tampa Bay Rays selected Lowe in the third round with the 87th overall selection of the 2015 MLB Draft. He recovered from his injury and made his professional debut in 2016 with the Bowling Green Hot Rods, finishing the season batting .248 with five home runs and 42 RBI in 107 games.
Brandon Norman Lowe Career
Minor League Development (2016–2018)
Lowe began the 2017 season with the Charlotte Stone Crabs and was promoted to the Montgomery Biscuits during the season. With Charlotte, he hit .311/.403/.524 with nine home runs and 46 RBI in 90 games, earning MVP honors of the Florida State League. With Montgomery, he slashed .253/.270/.389 in 23 games. After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League and was selected to play in the Fall Stars Game, further establishing himself as one of the top prospects in the Rays organization.
Lowe began the 2018 season with the Biscuits and also played for the Durham Bulls of the Triple-A International League. He was named to the 2018 MLB Pipeline second team of the year after hitting .297/.391/.558 with 22 home runs in 380 at-bats, demonstrating the power-speed combination that would define his major league career.
Tampa Bay Rays Breakthrough (2018–2025)
The Tampa Bay Rays promoted Lowe to the major leagues for the first time on August 4, 2018. He recorded his first big league hit on August 15 and his first career home run on August 28. Lowe ended the 2018 season slashing .233/.324/.450 with six home runs and 25 RBI over 148 plate appearances.
On March 20, 2019, Lowe signed a six-year contract extension with two options with the Rays for a reported $24 million guaranteed. He earned his first career All-Star selection as a reserve for the 2019 MLB All-Star Game. He finished the 2019 season hitting .270/.336/.514 with 17 home runs and 51 RBI in 82 games, placing third in American League Rookie of the Year voting.
The 2020 shortened season saw Lowe earn All-MLB Second Team honors. He was named team MVP by Tampa Bay members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America after hitting .269/.362/.554 with 14 home runs and 37 RBI during the 60-game campaign. In the playoffs, despite struggling early in the postseason, Lowe broke out in Game 2 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting two home runs. He became the first Ray and the sixth second baseman to hit two home runs in a World Series game.
Lowe entered the 2021 season as the Rays’ starting second baseman and had a standout year. He was named AL Player of the Week for the week of May 17–23 after batting .437 with three home runs and seven RBI. He recorded a three-homer game against the New York Yankees on October 2, 2021. He finished the season hitting .247/.340/.523 with 39 home runs and 99 RBI in 149 games, placing 10th in American League MVP voting.
The 2022 season was challenging for Lowe, as he was plagued by injuries. He was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 16 due to lower-back issues and later transferred to the 60-day IL. He ended up playing in only 65 games with eight home runs. He bounced back in 2023, hitting his 100th career home run on August 16 and becoming the fastest primary second baseman to reach that milestone, doing so in just 477 games.
Pittsburgh Pirates Era (2026–Present)
On December 19, 2025, the Rays traded Lowe to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-team trade. The Pirates acquired Lowe along with Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery. This move marked the end of Lowe’s seven-year tenure with the Rays organization and the beginning of a new chapter in Pittsburgh.
Defensive Versatility and Playing Style
Throughout his career, Lowe has been known primarily as a second baseman, but he has demonstrated versatility across the diamond. While spending the majority of his time at second base with the Rays, he played 15 games in the outfield during his rookie season. In recent years, he has split time between second base, first base, and designated hitter, providing his teams with valuable positional flexibility. His offensive game centers on power hitting, particularly his ability to drive the ball out of the park from both sides of the plate.
Notable Career Milestones
Lowe’s career has been highlighted by several memorable moments. His two-homer performance in Game 2 of the 2020 World Series helped the Rays secure a victory and set a record for most home runs by a team in a single postseason. His three-homer game against the New York Yankees in 2021 showcased his ability to take over a game with his bat. In 2023, he became the fastest primary second baseman to reach 100 career home runs, accomplishing the feat in just 477 games.
Brandon Norman Lowe Career Highlights
Throughout his MLB career, Brandon Norman Lowe has established himself as one of the premier power-hitting second basemen in baseball. His career statistics through June 26, 2026, include a batting average of .247, 176 home runs, and 498 runs batted in across his major league career spanning from 2018 to the present.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Lowe’s most productive season came in 2021 when he hit 39 home runs and drove in 99 runs while appearing in 149 games. His 2025 season with the Rays was also exceptional, as he earned his second career All-Star selection while hitting .256/.307/.477 with 31 home runs and 83 RBI in 134 appearances. His standout performance in the shortened 2020 season earned him All-MLB Second Team honors and team MVP recognition.
Career Achievements
Among his most notable accomplishments are his two All-Star selections in 2019 and 2025, his All-MLB Second Team selection in 2020, and his third-place finish in the 2019 American League Rookie of the Year voting. He also received AL Player of the Week honors multiple times throughout his career, including during the 2021 season when he batted .437 over a weekly stretch.
| Achievement | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| MLB All-Star | 2019, 2025 |
| All-MLB Second Team | 2020 |
| AL Rookie of the Year Finalist | 2019 |
Family
Personal Life
Brandon Norman Lowe grew up in Virginia as a fan of the New York Yankees. He is married to Madison Martin, a former Maryland college softball player whom he met when both were student-athletes at the University of Maryland. The couple has a son together. During the offseason, Lowe and his family reside in Nashville, Tennessee.
Lowe is not related to fellow MLB players Nathaniel and Josh Lowe, despite sharing the same last name. The three Lowes played together on the Tampa Bay Rays roster at various points, with Brandon being the oldest of the three.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a significant milestone year for Brandon Norman Lowe with the Tampa Bay Rays. Operating as Tampa Bay’s primary second baseman throughout the campaign, Lowe earned his second career All-Star selection, solidifying his status as one of the top players at his position in baseball. He made 134 appearances for the Rays during the regular season, hitting .256/.307/.477 with 31 home runs and 83 RBI.
This performance came on the heels of a productive 2024 season in which Lowe split time between second base, first base, and designated hitter, slashing .244/.311/.473 with 21 home runs and 58 RBI in 107 appearances. His ability to remain productive despite shifting defensive positions demonstrated his value to the Rays lineup.
The 2025 season ultimately concluded with Lowe’s trade to the Pittsburgh Pirates in December, ending his tenure with the organization that drafted him. As he enters the 2026 season with his new club, Lowe brings a track record of power hitting, All-Star selections, and postseason experience that should bolster the Pirates’ lineup for years to come.