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Jed Lowrie may be the answer at second base for Oakland A’s

By David Hill

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Second baseman Jed Lowrie #8 of the Oakland Athletics throws to first base on a ground ball out by Josh Rojas #10 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of the MLB spring training baseball game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 16, 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Second baseman Jed Lowrie #8 of the Oakland Athletics throws to first base on a ground ball out by Josh Rojas #10 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of the MLB spring training baseball game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 16, 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /
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Jed Lowrie was the ultimate flyer for the Oakland A’s. The team needed help at second base but where limited by their budget and available options. As Lowrie only cost a minor league deal due to his two injury plagued seasons with the Mets, and the two sides had years of familiarity, it was a deal that made perfect sense.

It is also a deal that could prove better than either side could have imagined. Lowrie is finally healthy once again, looking like a viable major league option. Even if he is not ready by Opening Day, his return to the majors may not take that much longer.

Jed Lowrie could be the answer

After a predictably slow start with the bat, Lowrie is starting to heat up at the plate in spring training. He had posted a .214/.258/.500 batting line in his 31 plate appearances heading into Friday, hitting two homers and two doubles.

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While those numbers may not be inspiring, he had been hitless in his first nine plate appearances to begin spring training. His .300/.318/.700 batting line since that point is much better, especially considering that he had eight plate appearances in the past two seasons combined, all of which came in 2019.

Of equal importance has been his play on defense. Lowrie is making the plays the A’s need, showing solid range and the ability to move as needed. Manager Bob Melvin has said that Lowrie looks as good as he did in his first trek through Oakland years ago. There is a great deal of optimism around Lowrie at this point.

And there should be. While Tony Kemp and Chad Pinder have been valuable pieces on the roster, they have not exactly thrived in an every day role. It is foolhardy to depend on Lowrie and his ability to stay healthy at this point, but as he continues to head out on the diamond, it is easy to sense that excitement.

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The Oakland A’s have been searching for an answer at second base. A healthy Jed Lowrie could be exactly what the A’s had been looking for.