'We think it's in there': Lowe has 30-HR potential with Nats

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Nathaniel Lowe believes watching more pitches -- and possibly taking more walks -- in March could lead to the first 30-homer season of his career.

Acquired via an offseason trade with Texas to bolster the Nationals’ offensive production, Lowe's previous homer high is the 27 he hit for the Rangers in 2022.

“Thirty would be really exciting,” Lowe said. “I think 30 is another one of those things that over the course of a career, you'd like to have certain accomplishments. It's a good measuring stick. I feel like a lot of times when you talk about a power hitter's career, you talk about how many 30-homer seasons they had, and not having one yet, I'd definitely like it.”

Yes, homers are nice, but for the moment at least, they aren't a focus. Unlike rookies trying to impress management with their spring power to ensure a roster spot, the 29-year-old Lowe is focusing on preparing for Opening Day.

“I'm very appreciative that the coaches understand my process, because I'm not going to post stats,” Lowe said of spring. “I don't even like looking at the scoreboard and seeing how many at-bats that I've had and how many hits I've had. As long as I'm getting something out of every day, then I think I'm getting better.”

In other words, seeing strikes is more important than pounding them this time of year.

“Sometimes I'll take a strike, maybe take two strikes, and then try to work through something there,” Lowe said.

True to form, the left-handed-hitting Lowe took a strike on the first Ronel Blanco pitch he saw on Sunday afternoon in the Nationals’ 4-3 win over the Astros before lacing a line-drive single through the right side for his second hit of the spring. Lowe drew a five-pitch walk off Josh Hader in his second plate appearance -- taking all five pitches. Lowe saw five more pitches in his third plate appearance, ultimately grounding out to first.

“He's a veteran guy who understands himself better than I can ever understand him,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “He says, ‘I like to see a lot of pitches early, and once I get going in games, I'll start hunting the fastballs a little bit more early.’”

Even in the regular season Lowe is known for making pitchers work. His 71 walks last season ranked sixth in the American League, while his .361 on-base percentage ranked ninth. His 12.6 percent walk rate also was fourth highest among all players.

The Nationals will take those numbers, but what they really need from Lowe is run production.

Last season, Washington hit the fewest home runs in the National League, and the Nats’ .375 slugging percentage ranked second to last in the NL.

A career .272 hitter with 89 homers over six seasons, Lowe hit .265 with 16 homers and 69 RBIs last season with Texas. The Nationals believe the 30-homer mark is within reach for Lowe this year if he looks to drive the ball more -- especially when playing half his games at Nationals Park where balls are known to carry during the summer.

“We think it's in there,” Martinez said. “A lot of it has to do with, for me, getting his 'A' swing off every pitch, looking to drive the ball every pitch, taking a couple more chances in counts, especially early.”

A line-drive hitter more than a true power hitter, Lowe hasn't made significant swing adjustments this spring to bolster his power. Like most springs, he's trying to shorten his path to the ball, with the goal of barreling more baseballs.

Lowe is looking to lift the ball a little more, but he still desires consistent line drives as opposed to sporadic moon shots.

“Line drives turn into home runs, for sure,” Lowe said. “For me, because my tendencies are to hit the ball down on the ground, I have to stress hitting higher line drives.”

Even if Lowe doesn’t reach the 30-homer mark, the Nationals expect to see a positive impact in other ways.

A premium defender, Lowe won the 2023 Gold Glove Award at first base in the AL, and the Nationals are already seeing some of that form.

“His defense has been unbelievable,” Martinez said.