David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. Bio
David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. (born July 7, 1995) is an American professional baseball first baseman who has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, and Cincinnati Reds. He made his MLB debut in 2019 with Tampa Bay and has established himself as a power-hitting corner infielder known for his defensive excellence at first base. Lowe won a World Series championship with the Texas Rangers in 2023, earned a Silver Slugger Award in 2022, and received his first Gold Glove Award in 2023.
Early Life and Background
David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. was born in Marietta, Georgia, and attended Pope High School in the same city. While at Pope High School, he balanced athletics with music, playing upright bass in both orchestra and jazz bands. His athletic abilities extended beyond baseball, as he developed as a multi-sport athlete during his high school years.
Lowe continued his baseball career at the collegiate level, beginning at Mercer University where he played for the Mercer Bears in 2014. He transferred to St. Johns River State College for the 2015 season before moving to Mississippi State University to join the Mississippi State Bulldogs for 2016. That year, he earned second-team All-American honors from Louisville Slugger, establishing himself as one of the top college players in the country.
Path to Professional Baseball
The Tampa Bay Rays selected David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. in the 13th round of the 2016 MLB Draft, using the 390th overall selection. He signed with the organization and began his professional career with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the Low-A New York-Penn League. In 67 games with the Renegades, he batted .300 with four home runs and 40 runs batted in, demonstrating his ability to hit for average and power at the professional level.
Lowe spent the 2017 season split between the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Single-A Midwest League and the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the High-A Florida State League, combining to hit .274 with seven home runs and 59 RBIs in 115 games. The 2018 season marked his breakthrough year in the minors, as he played for Charlotte, earned a midseason promotion to the Montgomery Biscuits of the Double-A Southern League, and received a late-season call-up to the Durham Bulls of the Triple-A International League. He represented the Rays in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game and was named to the MLB Pipeline Team of the Year after hitting .330 with 27 home runs and 102 RBIs across 130 games between all three clubs.
David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. Career
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2019–2020)
The Rays promoted David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. to the major leagues for the first time on April 29, 2019. On July 5, 2019, he recorded his first major league home run against the New York Yankees. Less than two weeks later, on July 13, he hit his first multi-home run game. In his rookie season, Lowe showed flashes of the power and plate discipline that had made him a standout in the minor leagues.
The 2020 season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Lowe appeared in 21 games for the Rays. He slashed .224/.316/.433 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in 76 at-bats during the condensed campaign.
Texas Rangers Era (2021–2024)
On December 10, 2020, the Rays traded David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. to the Texas Rangers as part of a multi-player deal. Over 157 games in his first season with the Rangers in 2021, Lowe hit .264/.357/.415 with 18 home runs and 72 RBIs, establishing himself as a reliable middle-of-the-order bat.
The 2022 season became the defining year of his career thus far. On June 15, 2022, Lowe became the first player in major league history to strike out in two immaculate innings during the same game, doing so against the Houston Astros. For the week ending August 28, 2022, he was named American League Player of the Week after batting .385 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in six games. He finished the 2022 season with a .302 batting average, 27 home runs, and 76 RBIs, earning him the American League Silver Slugger Award for first basemen.
Lowe began the 2023 season by agreeing to a one-year, $4.05 million contract with the Rangers. Over 161 games, he hit .262 with 17 home runs and 82 RBIs as Texas won the World Series championship. His defensive excellence at first base earned him his first career Gold Glove Award. In 2024, Lowe played 140 games and batted .265/.361/.401 with 16 home runs and 69 RBIs before his tenure with Texas concluded.
Washington Nationals (2025)
On December 22, 2024, the Rangers traded David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Robert Garcia. His salary for the 2025 season was set at $10.3 million through the arbitration process. On June 21, 2025, Lowe hit his 100th career home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers. On August 13, he hit his first grand slam home run in a game against the Kansas City Royals. He appeared in 119 games for Washington, slashing .216/.292/.373 with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs before being designated for assignment on August 14. The Nationals placed him on release waivers on August 16, ending his tenure with the club.
Boston Red Sox (2025)
On August 18, 2025, the Boston Red Sox signed David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. to a major league contract. He made 34 appearances for Boston and batted .280/.370/.420 with two home runs and 16 RBIs. The Red Sox designated him for assignment on November 18, and he was non-tendered on November 21, becoming a free agent.
Cincinnati Reds (2026–Present)
On February 13, 2026, David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. On March 23, 2026, the Reds selected his contract after he made the team’s Opening Day roster.
David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. Career Highlights
Through June 5, 2026, David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. has played 638 MLB games across seven seasons, compiling a career batting average of .263 with 116 home runs and 438 RBIs. His most decorated season came in 2022 when he won the American League Silver Slugger Award. In 2023, he won his first Gold Glove Award while helping the Texas Rangers capture the World Series championship.
Major Awards and Championships
David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. won the American League Silver Slugger Award for first basemen in 2022, recognizing his excellence as a hitter at his position. He captured his first Gold Glove Award in 2023, becoming one of the top defensive first basemen in the American League. That same year, he won a World Series championship with the Texas Rangers, the first of his career.
Career Milestones
His career milestones include his MLB debut on April 29, 2019, with the Tampa Bay Rays. He recorded his first career home run on July 5, 2019, against the New York Yankees. On June 21, 2025, he hit his 100th career home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Earlier in 2022, he became the first player in MLB history to strike out in two immaculate innings during the same game.
David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. comes from a baseball family. His brother, Josh Lowe, is also a professional baseball player. The two brothers were teammates in the minor leagues with the Bowling Green Hot Rods and Charlotte Stone Crabs organizations. Both were in the Tampa Bay Rays minor league system simultaneously, though they never shared a major league roster. Their father, David Lowe Sr., was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 1986 MLB Draft but chose a different path. He attended the United States Naval Academy and became a naval aviator, serving as a fighter pilot in the United States Navy for 20 years.
Personal Life
Prior to the 2021 MLB season, David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. was known professionally as Nate Lowe. His mother requested that he be identified as Nathaniel after she noticed a birthday tweet by Bally Sports Southwest that referred to him as Nate.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. as the Washington Nationals’ starting first baseman. He reached a significant career milestone on June 21, 2025, when he hit his 100th career home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He followed that with his first grand slam home run in mid-August against the Kansas City Royals. Despite these highlights, Lowe’s overall production dipped compared to his previous seasons, as he posted a .216 batting average with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs across 119 games with Washington.
His tenure with the Nationals ended in mid-August when the team designated him for assignment following the activation of Dylan Crews from the injured list. The Nationals placed him on release waivers shortly after. The Boston Red Sox signed him in late August, and he provided depth at first base and designated hitter for the stretch run, batting .280 with two home runs and 16 RBIs in 34 games. Following the season, the Red Sox non-tendered him, making him a free agent.
Lowe signed with the Cincinnati Reds in February 2026 on a minor league contract and earned a spot on their Opening Day roster, continuing his major league career with his sixth organization.