Major League Baseball award season is fast-approaching, and one player will be representing Maryland this time around.
Former Terp and current Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe was named a finalist for the 2019 American League Rookie of the Year Monday.
Rookie
Cy
ManagerWhat a group of finalists. #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/cfKOqgDN1j
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) November 5, 2019
Lowe’s Rays went back to the postseason for the first time since 2013, and he had a big hand in guiding the franchise to its second-most wins in a single season in team history.
His 2019 season was shortened by nearly three months after he fouled a pitch off his foot in early July, but his first half was award-worthy. Lowe was selected to the AL roster for the All Star Game in Cleveland, the first Maryland position player in 72 years to do so.
🎶 Hey LOWE you’re an All Star 🎶
@Sweet_n_Lowe5 is headed to the midsummer classic as Maryland’s first position player All-Star in 72 years! #HeATerp pic.twitter.com/aqRdKmrwHT
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) July 3, 2019
In 82 games, Lowe hit .270/.336/.514 with 17 home runs and 51 RBI. In the playoffs, Lowe hit .211 and largely struggled. However, he hit a solo home run in game three of the ALDS, the first Terp since Charlie Keller in 1942 to hit a playoff dinger.
HE PLAYS LOWE’D ‼️
HE A TERP 🐢
@Sweet_n_Lowe5 💣 pic.twitter.com/7yZRVHzQeR
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) October 7, 2019
Lowe probably would’ve been the runaway Rookie of the Year winner had he not been injured. His absence allowed Houston’s Yordan Alvarez to emerge, but Lowe still has an outside chance to win based on his importance to the team and the hole left while he was hurt.
The winner will be announced on November 11.