It’s been a week since Rhett Lowder returned to the mound for Triple-A Louisville, and just five days since speculation began about whether he might join the Cincinnati Reds before season’s end.
That possibility took a major hit yesterday. Lowder was scratched from what would have been his second outing back after forearm and oblique injuries sidelined him most of 2025. The decision came after lingering shoulder soreness from his first start, according to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon.
The MRI results brought some relief—no structural damage—but the timeline makes it nearly impossible for Lowder to build up enough strength and endurance to contribute in the Reds’ bullpen, much less as a starter, before the regular season wraps up.
It’s a bitter setback for both Lowder and the club. The 2023 first-round pick rocketed through the minors and even held his own in the majors last year, only to see most of 2025 derailed by injuries.
Still, there’s optimism for a rebound. The Reds expect him to be healthy enough for the Arizona Fall League, a familiar path the team has used to get valuable innings for players like Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand after injury-shortened seasons.
With the Peoria Javelinas, Lowder could both prove his health and sharpen his stuff before the year closes.
For the Reds, however, the chance of adding a late-season reinforcement to their playoff push has slipped away.
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