10 things to know about Texas Rangers’ Nathaniel Lowe, including his brotherly rival

Nathaniel Lowe has established himself as one of the Texas Rangers’ most important players moving forward.

During his time with the Rangers, he has collected personal hardware as well as a World Series title. From his inspiring family story off the field to his brotherly bonds, here are 10 things you need to know about Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe.

1. The basics

Name: David Nathaniel Lowe Jr.

Birthday: July 7, 1995 in Norfolk, Virginia

Ht./wt.: 6-4, 220 pounds

Place of residence: Marietta, Georgia

Position: First base

2. Brotherly love

Lowe’s younger brother Josh is an outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays.

They were also drafted to the Rays the same year. The Rays took Nathaniel in the 13th round of the 2016 MLB draft and Josh in the first round (13th overall) of the same draft. Nathaniel was drafted out of Mississippi State, while Josh was selected straight out of Pope High School in their hometown of Marietta, Georgia.

Before their first game against each other in June 2023, the two brothers were supposed to be the respective representatives of the Rays and Rangers when lineup cards were exchanged. It was the second game of a three-game series, but Josh had sat out the first game.

Baseball runs in the family. Josh and Nathaniel’s father, David, was drafted in the fifth round of the 1986 MLB draft by the Seattle Mariners. He was a pitcher, but instead of pursuing his professional baseball career, he attended the US Naval Academy and became a fighter pilot for twenty years.

3. Bigger than baseball

Adversity struck the Lowe family the night they hosted nearly 100 family members and friends for the brothers’ first MLB showdown. That night she passed out in the suite. They didn’t think anything of it at the time, but two weeks later she had a seizure that caused her to lose consciousness.

After a hospital stay and some tests over the summer, doctors diagnosed her with brain cancer. The family kept the diagnosis private until the Rangers and Rays met in the 2023 Wild Card round.

“I asked her if it’s okay if I said something,” Josh said. “And she said yes, because the more people know, the more prayers can be said for her.”

In the 2024 season, Wendy Lowe was able to attend the Rangers-Rays series in Arlington. The family is encouraged by a new treatment Wendy is undergoing. Rangers coach and cancer survivor Tony Beasley has also been a great resource for the family.

“You hear the immediate diagnosis and that there’s no cure and no timeline, and you have no idea where you’re going,” Lowe said. “But it’s no coincidence that we have a cancer survivor who I get to work with. It was great to have him available and accessible.”

4. Silver Slugger

If there was a sign that the Rangers offense would break out like it did in 2023, perhaps Lowe’s 2022 season was a small indicator.

Lowe was outstanding in 2022, winning the American League Silver Slugger for first basemen. He belted 27 home runs and slashed .302/.358/.492/.851 with an OPS+ of 139. So far, that season represents his career highs in OPS, home runs, batting average, slugging percentage and hits.

He led all AL first basemen in OPS that season.

His 2022 Silver Slugger marked the first time a Ranger won the award since Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre did so in 2014.

5. Had a great time at the World Series parade

Rangers fans at the festive World Series parade had the time of their lives.

But no one had more fun at the parade than Nathaniel Lowe, that’s for sure. He stole the show from the truck he was driving and threw back drinks that fans threw at him, even to the point of taking off his shirt.

On one of the biggest days in franchise history, Lowe was a star enjoying plenty of drinks and cigars.

6. Improved defense led to hardware

A year after winning the AL’s Silver Slugger, he took home the AL’s Gold Glove award at first base.

Lowe ranked first in defensive runs saved at his position and second in outs above average. He made only two errors all season. While his 2022 Silver Slugger season was impressive, he wasn’t very good defensively. In 2023 he made a big leap.

In 2022, he was statistically one of the worst first basemen in the AL. His defensive runs saved ranked last among qualified AL first basemen that season. Working hard to improve in the offseason saw him go from one of the worst in the league to the best in the league.

“It might not be as glorious as a two-run homer or a big double into the gap or something like that, but I’ll tell you what: making outs in the postseason is what’s really going to help us win this championship,” Lowe said before Game 4 of the World Series.

7. Giving back to the community

Lowe was the face of North Texas Giving Day in 2024. The Commnities Foundation of Texas calls the event the largest community-wide giving event in the country.

The event connects donors with more than 3,000 local nonprofits each year. By 2023, the program raised more than $63 million.

According to the event’s website, approximately $68.3 million was raised. Lowe’s mother’s cancer diagnosis was one of the reasons he wanted to help.

“One of the things that really stuck with me was when doctors told my parents to choose the treatment they could afford, and the treatment that wouldn’t help them was ruined,” Lowe said. “That’s quite disappointing. Who’s to say that someone working a minimum wage hourly job, rather than a gazillionaire, will have less access to medical care if they have the same condition? That is a great shame and unfortunately also the climate we are stuck with. So for a group like (CFT) that gives so much back to the community it was pretty special to be involved. And it made sense to be part of that.”

8. Mother intervened

For the early part of his career, Nathaniel Lowe was known as Nate Lowe. It’s how he was announced by Chuck Morgan when he came on the board and how he was listed in the lineups.

Then, in July 2021, Wendy Lowe called out Bally Sports Southwest on Twitter.

From then on he is listed as Nathaniel Lowe.

In 2023, he was asked if he gets offended when people call him Nate.

“I don’t take offense to it at all,” he said. “I guess it’s funny that it has turned into the PR thing it has become, but I respond to both and am not offended by either.”

9. Musically gifted

Growing up, Nathaniel and Josh Lowe were both very musically talented.

Nathaniel played bass in orchestra and jazz band, while Josh played saxophone. Perhaps in another life the Lowe brothers’ baseball careers were replaced by orchestra careers.

10. Rangers pulled a fleece to get it

Prior to the 2021 season, the Rangers made a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays to acquire a guy named Nate Lowe.

The Rangers acquired Lowe, Jake Guenther and Carl Chester, while sending infielder Osleivis Basabe, catcher/outfielder Heriberto Hernandez and outfielder Alexander Ovalles to Tampa Bay.

According to Baseball Reference, Lowe has totaled 11.5 wins above replacement.

How have things gone with the players the Rangers gave up for Lowe? Basabe collected 0.4 WAR in 31 games with the Rays in 2023. Hernandez and Ovalles have yet to make their major league debuts.

Advantage, Rangers.

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