BOSTON — Josh Lowe is trying to make the best of a lost season.
“It’s been a year of learning from failure,” the Angels’ outfielder said. “I think that’s important. When you look at a season, especially one that hasn’t gone the way that you want personally, you need to learn from the things you failed at, and that’s what makes you a better player.”
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When the Angels picked up Lowe last winter, they figured they were at least getting a competent left-handed hitter who could play all three outfield positions. At best, they would get the player who hit 20 homers with 31 stolen bases and an .835 OPS in 2023.
Instead, Lowe started so badly that he was sent to Triple-A for a month. He’s been better since he returned in June, but for the season he’s still hitting .207 with a .628 OPS.
“When I went down to Triple-A it was kind of a ticket to reset and to figure out some things, hitting-wise,” Lowe said. “I did. I think we saw the power kind of tick up. I know I’m capable of doing that. But personally for myself, I’d like to see myself get on base a lot more. I feel like I can bring a lot of value when it comes to getting on base and stealing bases, running the bases well. Not being able to do that is something that’s kind of made me mad.”
As for the power, Lowe hit five home runs with a .320 slugging percentage in 45 games before he went down. He has hit six homers with a .384 slugging percentage in 54 games since he came back.
His on-base percentage for the season is .274, which is the worst of his career.
Lowe, 28, is arbitration-eligible this winter, with two seasons left before free agency. He is making $2.6 million this season.
Lowe said he’s going to spend this winter working on getting himself back to what he was in 2023.
“This year is what it is,” Lowe said. “It hasn’t necessarily shown on paper, but anytime I take the field, the mindset, the confidence, all that’s there. Physically, I feel great. I think some of the metrics might show that.”
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Lowe’s bat speed, and sprint speed are both above average, and in line with what they were in 2023.
“When I step on the field, I still feel like I’m one of the best players on the field,” Lowe said. “That version of myself is right there. Maybe some momentum would have allowed that to play out a little more this year. Just getting on a streak and getting on a roll with that. I still feel like I’m a dynamic player and right there to get back to that form.”
GUZMAN UPDATE
Third baseman Denzer Guzman was in the starting lineup for the second time in eight games on Tuesday night, because the Angels have been having him do extra work with the hitting coaches.
“We’ve been talking all the time, communicating and having him work on stuff,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “It’s really hard to go out there when you’re working on stuff and kind of implementing it in the game. … I feel like he’s been swinging it better.”
Guzman, 22, hit .271 with three home runs and an .827 OPS in his first 12 major league games this season, but ever since then it’s been a struggle. He came into Tuesday’s game hitting .217 with a .597 OPS.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP Ryan Johnson, 3-8, 5.17 ERA) at Red Sox (LHP Jake Bennett, 9-6, 3.34 ERA), Wednesday, 3:45 p.m., ABTV, 830 AM
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