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MLB Pipeline shared some spray charts of the most productive line drive and flyball hitters, and among those luckiest/most effective (which is it?), Rays prospect Nate Lowe ranked 9th!
#Rays No. 13 prospect Nate Lowe had improved bat speed and a looser, more athletic swing in a breakout 2018 campaign.
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) January 3, 2019
Not only did he hit 27 HRs, but he also drove the ball extremely well. More from @GoldenSombrero: https://t.co/EtRw6fqx5w pic.twitter.com/HUVRWeAv5j
Lowe began his Rays career more famously as the older brother of first round draft pick Josh Lowe, but has emerged as the higher ranked prospect and will likely break into the majors in 2019.
And as the spray chart indicates, he can hit to all fields. Here’s an example of his opposite field power to whet your appetite.
For more on Nate Lowe, read here:
- Nate Lowe went to the Zobrist school of swinging hard and it’s paying off
- Looking at the Rays in-house options at first base for 2019
- Baseball America pre-season Top-10 Rays Prospects features Nate Lowe at No. 9
Rays News
- Ken Rosenthal reports the Cardinals are not eager or looking to trade Jose Martinez, a widely speculated Rays trade candidate
*The Cardinals were never particularly eager to trade José Martínez, viewing him as a low-cost weapon off the bench whose offensive contributions likely would outweigh his defensive limitations.
Martínez still would make sense for the Rays and Astros, both of whom pursued Cruz, and the Dodgers also have shown interest. But one rival executive says he senses the Cardinals are even less willing to move Martínez than they were previously.
A player such as Martínez is hardly untouchable, and the right offer surely would sway the Cardinals.
- Ryne Stanek was profiled by the NY Times is a piece highlighting athletes for “changing their sport”!
- Former Rays minor leaguer signings found new homes, with MILB free agents RHP Ruben Alaniz joining the Mariners on a major league deal(!), and OF Shane Peterson joining the Dodgers on a minor league deal
- Neil Solondz casts a vision for how the rest of the off-season will play out
With the new year underway, here's a look at where to focus on with the #Rays over the next six weeks before Spring Training:https://t.co/5EVFCsrOkw
— Neil Solondz (@neilsolondz) January 2, 2019
- Some Rays wallpapers available for your mobile device:
#WallpaperWednesday: The threads#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/qrNLLsCydF
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) January 2, 2019
- And, since the off-season is slow, let’s watch some Snell high heat:
73 Seconds of Blake Snell Filth from 2018. #Snellzilla #Cyzilla pic.twitter.com/34wLLtOASz
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) January 3, 2019
Other Links
- The NBC Sports Chicago RSN is moving forward, without the Cubs.
BREAKING: NBC Sports Chicago and the White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks today announced a multi-year media rights deal that provides NBC Sports Chicago with exclusive local, multi-platform media rights to present game coverage of all three teams starting with the 2019-2020 season 1/
— Maury Brown (@BizballMaury) January 2, 2019
- Catcher Jonathan Lucroy has finalized his incentive laden deal with the Angels.
- Deadspin: It’s Time For Some Bryce Harper Game Theory | Your Favorite Baseball Team Can Afford Any Free Agent It Wants
- Joe Maddon’s new bench coach in Chicago is former big-leaguer Mark Loretta, whose only experience coaching was in the 2013 World Baseball Classic for Team Israel.
- Pitching Ninja is starting an app!
Today I'm announcing FlatGround, designed to help as many Pitchers as we possibly can to be seen/developed thru Social Media.
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) January 2, 2019
If you’re a Pitcher, Parent, Coach, Team, Scout, Writer or Agent…or just like watching or helping pitchers of all levels…please follow@FlatGroundApp pic.twitter.com/HEGjywTcXQ