Lowe and Behold.

Josh Lowe (TB): 2-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 5 RBI.

When I say it’s finally happening, as in, a player is breaking out, I mean it fully with Josh Lowe.

Lowe is probably a familiar name in the fantasy community. For the past two years, he’s been a fantasy target that hard to read dependent on how the Rays play him. It would appear the Rays now understand what they have with Lowe only platooning him occasionally.

Tonight’s effort was not a rarity for 2023, he has been quite the offensive force to start the year. His home run was absolutely clobbered, and the double to clear the bases completely opened the game up for the Rays.

Due to the Rays being the Rays, there is still some questions around playing time with him. Mike Trout could be a Ray and he would even be subject to a possible platoon, it’s just how they are. But to start 2023, Lowe looks every bit of who the Rays thought he would become and I for one am excited about his future.

 

Let’s see how the other hitters did Thursday

 

Casey Schmitt (SF): 4-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.

MORNING ADDITION. This is what I get for writing this article a touch earlier than usual, Casey Schmitt goes 4-4 and is a triple shy of the cycle in the late game. He probably should be the featured hitter! But I do love me some Josh Lowe. I’ve had my eye on Schmitt for a bit now because the Giants didn’t have a clear choice at third base heading into the 2023 season. In just his third game in the big leagues, Schmitt already looks like he belongs. Don’t expect too much speed but there is on-base potential and power in the bat. 20 home runs this year is not out of the question. Giants fans should be excited about this kid.

Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD): 2-3, HR, R, RBI, BB.

Far from his motorcycle accident and his PED suspension Fernando Tatis has looked like himself to start his 2023. Still, at the young age of 24, there wasn’t much question around him coming back and being exceptional for 2023. It feels like he is well on his way to finally getting in a grove because the ball he hit Thursday was a laser beam. Tatis is healthy, and that makes me happy.

Michael Massey (KC): 1-3, HR, R, RBI.

Massey came into the 2023 season with decently high expectations. The Royals have Bobby Witt Jr., Vinny Pasquantino, and MJ Melendez, Massey felt like the perfect complementary piece at second base to help that offense go from decent, to formidable. It hasn’t been quite the start we hoped for, but he has shown signs of life over the past week slashing .467/.571/.857 with 2 home runs and 4 walks to 5 strikeouts. He was a target for me in deeper leagues to start this year, and I think he is finally figuring it out.

Joey Gallo (MIN): 2-3, 2B, R, RBI, BB.

Who gave up on Joey Gallo? Raise your hand. My hand is up too so I feel that. Gallo fell into the Yankees fatigue. Maybe fatigue isn’t the right word, the Yankees fear. Being a Yankee seems tough. Pleasing someone from the Bronx who lives exclusively off bodega Jamaican beef patties, I’d also have a tough time performing. Even that last sentence could get me in hot water for reasons behind my Colorado brain. Yankees fans expect a lot from their players, and as a Rockies fan, I wish our fanbase did too. Gallo has seemingly found a spot in Minnesota and I’m sure he’s gotta be happy about it. The average won’t be high, but the OBP and Slug will be, and I’m just happy he’s happy.

Juan Soto (SD): 2-3, 2 2B, RBI, BB.

It’s a real superstar lineup tonight. Tatis, Gallo, Michael Massey, and now Juan Soto. I’ll never understand people who worry about Juan Soto. He hasn’t been quite himself but is he bad? No, are you kidding? His bad is Mike Trout bad, which is, not bad. Same as future hall of famer Michael Massey, his last week has shown promising output slashing .400/.545/.720 with more walks than strikeouts. Don’t worry about Juan Soto. Worry about anything else, he is going to be fine.

Andrew Vaughn (CWS): 2-3, R, RBI, BB.

The White Sox had a weird week where everyone was calling them a joke and I didn’t get it. They weren’t good, I’m not saying otherwise, but during that week the Royals, Rockies, and Cardinals were worse. It’s early, I’d wager the White Sox don’t finish great, and there isn’t much help on the way, but, I don’t know where I was going with that. Vaughn along with a few other south siders are worth having in your lineup. Vaughn hasn’t been quite the power threat we thought he would be, but he has become a good baseball player, and as my mom would say, I’m just happy everyone is having fun.

Freddy Fermin (KC): 2-4, RBI.

Y’all happy to see a walk-off bunt? Is this the moment you realized Thursday was a bit slow offensively? It happened to me when I contemplated writing about Bobby Witt Jr. who didn’t get a hit but got 2 stolen bases. This is the second time I’m writing about Fermin and in last week’s write up I said I doubt he would make this article again. I am so sorry. He laid down a perfect bunt to win the game on Thursday, and that is always really great. Back-up catcher? No way. More like a catcher who laid down a perfect game-winning bunt.