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The Los Angeles Angels are optimistic about Josh Lowe’s return date.
The Los Angeles Angels made some moves this offseason as they try to become competitive again. Kurt Suzuki takes over as field manager, and the Angels have a lot of new faces in the clubhouse. One of those new faces is Josh Lowe, whom they acquired in a three-team trade from the Tampa Bay Rays. Lowe, however, has been dealing with an oblique injury since the end of February, which put his opening day status in question.
Los Angeles has just given a great update on the injury status of their newly acquired outfielder, though.
Per Jeff Fletcher of the SoCal New Group, Lowe will be taking at-bats in minor league spring training. This will allow him to accumulate plenty of plate appearances, and the Angels expect him to be ready for opening day.
Also, Josh Lowe (oblique) will likely start hitting in minor league games this weekend. He can load up on ABs in those games so the Angels are currently expecting him to be ready for Opening Day.
Josh Lowe’s Role On the Angels
GettyJosh Lowe should slot into the middle of the order.
Lowe was acquired with the expectations of slotting into the middle of the order. He should provide some protection for Mike Trout, as the three-time MVP seems to have a lot left in the tank.
Last season, Lowe slashed .220/.283/.366 with 11 home runs, 40 RBI, and 18 stolen bases in 108 games played. It was a massive down year for the left-handed bat, but the Angels are hoping he can return to his normal form. That normal form is being a player who can provide some pop while making a lot of hard contact.
In 2024, Lowe ranked in the 76th percentile in average exit velocity, 77th percentile in hard-hit percentage, and 83rd percentile in LA sweet-spot percentage. Now, he can be labeled as a free swinger at the plate, but he is capable of being a dangerous hitter. If Los Angeles can find a way to make Lowe more patient at the plate, he will take that step forward the Angels are hoping for.
In the field, Lowe should start in right field. Trout is making his return to center field, which opens up a spot in right field. Lowe was never going to be the center fielder at Angel Stadium, but he can hold his own in the corner outfield position.
Who Starts if Josh Lowe Can’t?
GettyJo Adell slugged 37 home runs last season.
Should Lowe be held out past opening day, which is not expected, the Angels have a few backup plans.
The first being Jo Adell or Jorge Soler. Neither player is a good defender, though. Adell finished 2025 with a minus-12 OAA, while Soler has turned into mostly a DH. Still, both bats belong in the lineup, so Suzuki has to be willing to trade defense for offense.
Bryce Teodosio is the next man up. He is going to be a platoon player for Los Angeles this season, but could find himself in the lineup more often if players are hurt.
Defensively, Teodosio is probably the best on the Angels. In a short sample size last year, the outfielder finished with a plus-10 OAA and was in the 88th percentile in arm strength, while finishing in the 98th percentile in sprint speed.
The problem is his bat. Teodosio has not proven himself to be a Major League Hitter, and that keeps him out of the lineup. But heading into Tuesday, the right-handed hitter is batting .346 with a .816 OPS in 26 spring training at-bats. That is a big step in the right direction.
Lowe is expected to be ready for opening day, but the Angels have some options to replace him if he is unable to play.
Cam Zunkel Cam Zunkel has been a sports journalist since 2022. He covers the NBA and MLB for Heavy.com. Cam also covers multiple MLB teams for On SI – part of the Sports Illustrated Brand. He is a former collegiate baseball player with two stops in the independent Frontier League. More about Cam Zunkel
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