Reds sign former Red Sox, Rangers Gold Glove first baseman

The Cincinnati Reds and first baseman Nathaniel Lowe have agreed to a minor league contract with an invite to Major League spring training as a non-roster invite, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand and Mark Sheldon. 

Lowe, 30, won a World Series championship with the Texas Rangers in 2023 and is a seven-year veteran, making his MLB debut in 2019 with the Tampa Bay Rays. He won a Silver Slugger Award in 2022 and a Gold Glove Award the following season. 

Last season, the left-handed swinger hit .228/.307/.381 with 18 home runs and a .689 OPS in 119 games with the Washington Nationals and 34 games with the Boston Red Sox. 

Lowe's potential fit with the Reds 

Lowe will be battling for a spot on the Reds' bench during spring training. Spencer Steer and Sal Stewart could see the majority of playing time at first base, with Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the mix. 

His short tenure in Boston may be a glimpse of what he can provide Cincinnati with a bat in hand. Lowe's .790 OPS in 119 plate appearances with the Red Sox was 0.125 points higher than his .665 mark in 490 plate appearances with the Nationals. Albeit it was a much smaller sample size. 

The hitter-friendly stadium that is Great American Ballpark could also help Lowe find the seats a few more times throughout the year, but that would require him to spend consistent time at the Major League level. 

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