Rays place Josh Lowe on IL with Grade 2 oblique strain
The Tampa Bay Rays placed outfielder Josh Lowe on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain, the team announced Saturday.
Outfielder Jake Mangum was recalled from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding roster move.
An MRI taken Saturday revealed Lowe suffered a Grade 2 strain, which he said is "a little worse than (his oblique injury suffered) last year," according to Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun. While the team didn't provide a firm timeline for his return, manager Kevin Cash expects Lowe will be down for a significant period.
"We're talking multiple weeks," Cash said about a timetable, per Bass. "The good thing about Josh is that he's so athletic and would trust that probably a little bit of his youth and the way he takes care of his body will hopefully speed that up. We're so early right now, but my thoughts are it's going to be some time."
Lowe suffered the injury during his fifth-inning at-bat against Colorado Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland in Friday's game at George M. Steinbrenner Field. He singled to center but pulled up gingerly while running out of the batter's box. José Caballero pinch ran for Lowe and replaced him in right field.
"It's too frustrating," Lowe said Friday, according to Bass. "I've done that so many times this spring where I swung at that pitch and felt fine, and then for some reason for it to happen today, I don't really have words for it. Pretty beat up. I mean, sucks."
Oblique injuries plagued Lowe throughout 2024. He strained his right side in spring training last year, and also dealt with hip inflammation before he landed on the IL later in the campaign with more oblique problems.
The 27-year-old hit .241/.303/.391 with 10 home runs and 25 stolen bases in 106 games with the Rays last season.
Mangum, 29, will make his MLB debut when he gets into a game. The switch-hitting outfielder slashed .317/.357/.442 with six homers, 56 RBIs, and 20 steals across 104 contests at Triple-A in 2024. He also made an impression this spring, going 12-for-28 with a 1.217 OPS and two homers in 15 Grapefruit League outings.