PHILADELPHIA — Jed Lowrie has seen the Oakland A’s at a couple of totally different phases throughout his time with the membership.
From AL West winner to wild-card workforce to playoff outsider, he’s been by all of it in Oakland. Now again within the lineup for the primary time of the 2022 season, the 37-year-old is able to deliver what he’s all the time offered to the now-rebuilding A’s.
“I don’t assume it’s modified,” Lowrie mentioned within the clubhouse on Saturday. “I’ve been a veteran man for fairly a while now, so I've expectations to carry out and assist guys out when requested.”
Lowrie shall be batting second within the order within the DH position in his first begin because the A’s tackle the Philadelphia Phillies in Recreation 2 of their opening sequence at Residents Financial institution Park.
The previous All-Star re-signed with Oakland late in spring coaching after hitting .245 with 14 residence runs and a .717 OPS with the workforce final season. Lowrie had beforehand had two different stints with the A’s, becoming a member of the 2013 squad that received the American League West and spending 2013-2014 and 2016-2018 with the franchise.
The A’s made Lowrie a late addition to this 12 months’s inexperienced roster together with veteran catcher Stephen Vogt, who performed in Oakland from 2013-2017.
“Their management shall be invaluable right here,” A’s supervisor Mark Kotsay mentioned. “They know what it means to be an Oakland Athletic — our tradition, the identification of being an A. They’ll assist lead that within the clubhouse.”
As a result of late begin in camp, the A’s will take it sluggish with Lowrie to start the season. He didn’t begin in Friday’s opener, making a pinch-hit look within the seventh inning, and received’t play the sector on Saturday.
“As a veteran participant, we wish to make certain we deal with Jed,” Kotsay mentioned. “Construct him up earlier than we push him. … We’ll proceed to simply form of go day-by-day with Jed.”
As soon as eased in, Lowrie will see common time at first base and the DH spot. He might additionally make a handful of begins at second base in sure eventualities.
Till then, Lowrie may very well be used a bit extra sparingly within the early components of the season. However following the A’s 9-5 loss within the season opener, he’s simply seeking to assist the workforce compete when he’s accessible.
“That’s what has come to be anticipated from a workforce in Oakland,” he mentioned. “No person’s going to roll over.”