On the primary day after signing to return to the A’s, Jed Lowrie made his pitch to play second base this season in Oakland.
Whereas Lowrie instructed supervisor and former Crimson Sox teammate Mark Kotsay he’d do what it takes to make the lineup, he instructed reporters in Mesa on Sunday morning that he nonetheless had a need to play second base. He’s performed most of his video games there over the past 5 years since beginning his 13-season profession as a shortstop.
“I requested them to maintain an open thoughts, as a result of I’m transferring nicely,” Lowrie mentioned, in response to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Matt Kawahara.
The A’s even have Tony Kemp and Chad Pinder set for enjoying time at second, although each have performed greater than half of their profession video games within the outfield.
Lowrie, who turns 38 subsequent month, made 71 appearances at second base in 2021 and added 60 at designated hitter. His 139 whole video games in 2021 have been a shock on condition that accidents had saved him out the 2 prior seasons with the Mets, save for eight pinch-hit plate appearances in 2019.
He made solely three errors final season at second base however was amongst MLB’s worst fielders on the place, ending 8 runs under common in Baseball Reference’s whole fielding metric. On a fee foundation, that metric marked Lowrie’s work because the worst amongst any participant who performed 25 video games or extra at second base.
He was noticed taking groundballs at first base Saturday, maybe displaying that the A’s plan to make use of the switch-hitter as an choice the place the remainder of their roster (Eric Thames and Billy McKinney) bats left-handed. Lowrie has solely performed 11 video games at first base in his profession.
Wherever he traces up defensively, Lowrie is assured he can contribute for the A’s on the plate.
“I had a extremely good 12 months and also you take a look at a variety of the stats used to foretell efficiency, I had excellent batted ball statistics,” Lowrie instructed reporters Sunday, per MLB.com’s Martín Gallegos. “I used to be one of many guys singled out as one of the ‘unfortunate’ hitters within the recreation.”
Lowrie had the best common exit velocity (90.7 mph) and the best hard-hit fee (45.8%) of his profession, proof to his argument that he was unfortunate. He additionally had MLB’s seventh-largest damaging differential between anticipated slugging share and precise slugging share, in response to Statcast.
A hairline fracture in his proper wrist restricted Lowrie to solely left-handed at-bats towards the tip of final 12 months, however he says that's totally healed.
Lowrie mentioned he instructed the A’s final season that he needed to return to the crew, so it’s not a shock that he’s again. One good shock for Lowrie is that Stephen Vogt, his teammate on 2013 and 2014 A’s playoff groups, additionally signed on this week for a return to Oakland.
“That’s certainly one of my favourite teammates of all time,” Lowrie instructed MLB.com. “Getting the chance to play with him once more is thrilling.”
Each Lowrie and Vogt present a veteran presence for a clubhouse that has traded away All-Stars Chris Bassitt, Matt Olson and Matt Chapman for prospects because the A’s drop right into a rebuild. Pitchers Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea are additionally in commerce rumors; Montas pitched three innings Sunday, permitting six hits and 4 runs.
Vogt and Lowrie face a condensed timeline to organize for Opening Day, which is lower than two weeks away. Lowrie declined to say whether or not he felt he’d be prepared in time.
“There’s a purpose we've got [a] six-week spring coaching usually,” Lowrie mentioned. “I’m not saying it’s going to take me six weeks to prepare, however build up and getting that adrenaline, getting within the field … that’s the kind of stuff you need to construct as much as shield your self from damage and to get your timing and be able to play. I'd be silly to guess how lengthy that’s going to take.”