Mark Christopher Lowe (born June 7, 1983) is an American former
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Mod ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
. He played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB)
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...
,
Texas Rangers,
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...
,
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...
,
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
, and
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
. His
fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch thrown by pitchers in baseball and softball. "Power pitchers," such as former American major leaguers Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, rely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit, and have thro ...
has been clocked as high as 101 mph. He also throws a
slider
Slider or Sliders may refer to:
Arts
* K.K. Slider, a fictional character within the ''Animal Crossing'' franchise
* '' The Slider'', a 1972 album by T. Rex
* ''Sliders'' (TV series), an American science fiction and fantasy television series
* ...
and a
circle changeup
In baseball, a circle changeup (also called the "okay changeup", related to the thumb and index finger touching) is a pitch (baseball), pitch thrown with a grip that includes a circle formation, hence the name circle changeup. The circle is fo ...
.
College career
Lowe attended the
University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA or UT Arlington) is a public research university in Arlington, Texas. The university was founded in 1895 and was in the Texas A&M University System for several decades until joining the University of Te ...
. He also pitched for the
Wisconsin Woodchucks
The Wausau Woodchucks are an American baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. They play their home games at Athletic Park in Wausau, Wisconsin.
History
The team was known as the Wausau Woodchucks ...
in the 2002 and 2003 summer seasons and was a part of their championship team in 2003.
Professional career
Seattle Mariners
Lowe was drafted by the
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...
in the fifth round of the
2004 MLB Draft and began his career with the
Everett AquaSox
The Everett AquaSox are a Minor League Baseball team in Everett, Washington. The team is a member of the Northwest League and is affiliated with the Seattle Mariners. The AquaSox play their home games at Funko Field, which has a seating capacity o ...
of the Class-A
Northwest League
The Northwest League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Pacific Northwest, Northwestern United States and Western Canada. A Class A Short Season league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Maj ...
. In 22 starts with the
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, a town on the outskirts of Appleton, Wisconsin, Appleton in the Fox ...
in 2005, he made 22 starts and was 6–6 with a 5.47 ERA. He proceeded to play for the
Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino
The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. The 66ers are based in San Bernardino, California, and play at San Manuel Stadium.
Franchis ...
and
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. They are located in San Antonio, Texas, and are named for the Spanish missions around which the city was founded. ...
in 2006.
2006
He made his Major League debut for the
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...
on July 7, 2006 in
relief
Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces are bonded to a solid background of the same material. The term ''relief'' is from the Latin verb ''relevo'', to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that the ...
against the
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
, loading the bases before
striking out
''Striking Out'' is an Irish television legal drama series, broadcast on RTÉ, that first aired on 1 January 2017. Produced by Bl!nder F!lms for RTÉ Television, ''Striking Out'' stars Amy Huberman as Dublin-based solicitor Tara Rafferty, who is ...
the side. He opened his career by throwing scoreless innings. He picked up his first win on July 19 against the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
. Lowe was placed on the
disabled list
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 season, it was known as the disabled list (DL).
General guidelines
...
on August 20 with right elbow tendinitis and was later transferred to the 60-day disabled list. He underwent
arthroscopic surgery
Arthroscopy (also called arthroscopic or keyhole surgery) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure on a joint in which an examination and sometimes treatment of damage is performed using an arthroscope, an endoscope that is inserted into the jo ...
on his elbow after the season.
2007
Lowe was placed on 60-Day disabled list on April 1 and began a rehabilitation assignment on July 3 with the Triple-A
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. They are located in Tacoma, Washington, and play their home games at Cheney Stadium, which opened in 1960. ...
. He also made rehab appearances for the Short Season
Everett AquaSox
The Everett AquaSox are a Minor League Baseball team in Everett, Washington. The team is a member of the Northwest League and is affiliated with the Seattle Mariners. The AquaSox play their home games at Funko Field, which has a seating capacity o ...
and the
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
The Jackson Generals were a professional baseball team located in Jackson, Tennessee. From 1998 to 2020, they were a part of Minor League Baseball's Southern League (SL) as the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs (1998–2006), Seattle Mar ...
before being activated on July 24, He was 0–0, with a 6.75 ERA in four relief appearances, during his seven rehab appearances in West Tennessee, Everett and Tacoma. He was optioned to Tacoma on August 9 to make room on the roster for
John Parrish. He was recalled from Tacoma and placed on 15-day DL on August 28. He was rated by
Baseball America
''Baseball America'' is a sports enterprise that covers baseball at every level, including MLB, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in the MiLB, college, high school, and international leagues. It is currently published in the form o ...
as the Mariners number 8 prospect heading into the 2008 season.
2008–2009
In 2008 Lowe set career-highs in games (57), innings (63.2), and strikeouts (55). Among Mariners relievers, he ranked second in games, third in innings and third in strikeouts. He was 0–2, with a 3.60 ERA at home, the 6th-lowest home ERA by a reliever in the
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
. He began the season by making 12 scoreless relief appearances in his first 13 games. Lowe recorded a 0.55 ERA by allowing just one run in 16.1 innings from March 31 to June 13. He tossed at least 2 innings in 12 of his 57 appearances.
He recorded his first Major League save April 11 against the
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...
. Lowe was optioned to Tacoma on August 25, but did not make an appearance. He was recalled on September 2.
Texas Rangers
2010
On July 9, 2010, Lowe was traded to the
Texas Rangers with
Cliff Lee
Clifton Phifer Lee (born August 30, 1978) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher who played for 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Between 2002 and 2014 he played for four teams, most notably the Philadelphia Philli ...
for
Justin Smoak
Justin Kyle Smoak (born December 5, 1986) is an American professional baseball first baseman who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewer ...
and prospects
Blake Beavan
Blake William Beavan (born January 17, 1989) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. A first-round draft pick in the 2007 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers, Beavan was traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2010 in a package of prospects fo ...
,
Josh Lueke
Joshua William Lueke (born December 5, 1984) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the T ...
and
Matt Lawson. He made his debut for the Rangers on September 29, 2010 against Seattle, coming back from injury to throw a scoreless inning against his former team.
2011
Lowe was included on the Rangers postseason roster for 2011 after posting an ERA of 3.80 in 52 games. He was on the mound when
David Freese
David Richard Freese (born April 28, 1983) is an American former professional baseball Infielder, infielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). He began his MLB career with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he was a key player during the 2011 Major Leag ...
hit the walk off home run to end Game 6 of the
2011 World Series
The 2011 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2011 season. The 107th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Texas Rangers and the Nation ...
.
2012
He appeared in 36 games in 2012, with a 3.43 ERA.
Los Angeles Angels
On February 8, 2013, he signed a minor league contract with the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
that included an invitation to spring training. The Dodgers released him on March 24 and he signed another minor league contract, this time with the
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...
on March 27. He was designated for assignment on May 29, and released on June 6.
Washington Nationals
On June 11, 2013, the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
signed Lowe to a minor league contract and assigned him to the
Syracuse Chiefs
Syracuse may refer to:
Places Italy
*Syracuse, Sicily, or spelled as ''Siracusa''
*Province of Syracuse
United States
*Syracuse, New York
**East Syracuse, New York
**North Syracuse, New York
*Syracuse, Indiana
* Syracuse, Kansas
*Syracuse, Miss ...
of the Triple-A
International League
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...
.
Tampa Bay Rays
Lowe signed a minor league deal with the
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. Since its inception ...
on November 20, 2013. He was released on March 26, 2014.
Cleveland Indians
Lowe signed a minor league deal with the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...
in April 2014. He was called up to the majors from the Triple-A
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy Merchant ship, mercha ...
on May 22. He was designated for assignment on July 8, and assigned outright to Columbus on July 12. Lowe elected free agency on October 12, 2014.
Seattle Mariners (2nd stint)
On December 18, 2014, the Seattle Mariners signed Lowe to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Before he was traded, Lowe had pitched 36 innings in 34 appearances out of the bullpen for the Mariners, with an ERA of 1.00.
Toronto Blue Jays
On July 31, 2015, Lowe was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for
Rob Rasmussen,
Jake Brentz, and Nick Wells. Over the last two months of 2015, Lowe pitched 19 innings of relief for Toronto, compiling a 3.79 ERA. His combined totals for 2015 (with Seattle and Toronto) were: 55 innings, 1–3 record, 13 games finished, and a 1.96 ERA.
Detroit Tigers
On December 8, 2015, the
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
signed Lowe to a two-year, $11 million contract. Lowe struggled in his first season with the Tigers, pitching to a 7.11 ERA in innings.
He was released on March 26, 2017.
Seattle Mariners (3rd stint)
On March 30, 2017, Lowe signed with the Mariners on a minor-league deal, his third stint with the franchise.
Chicago White Sox
On July 21, 2017, Lowe was traded to the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
, along with fellow veteran pitcher
Jean Machi
Jean Manuel Machi (born February 1, 1982) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners. He was with the Gia ...
, and assigned to AAA. He was released on August 19, 2017.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On January 30, 2018, Lowe signed a minor league contract with the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
. He was released on March 12.
Sugar Land Skeeters
On February 18, 2019, Lowe signed with the
Sugar Land Skeeters
The Sugar Land Space Cowboys are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros Major League Baseball club. They are located in Sugar Land, Texas, part of the Greater Houston metr ...
of the
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league based in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The Atlantic League's ...
. He became a free agent following the season.
Personal life
Lowe played High School Baseball at Fort Bend Baptist Academy in
Sugar Land, Texas
Sugar Land is the largest city in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States, located in the southwestern part of the metropolitan area. Located about southwest of downtown Houston, Sugar Land is a populous suburban municipality centered around th ...
. Lowe was diagnosed with
diabetes
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ap ...
in 2008. Although initially he was diagnosed as a
Type 2 diabetic, his diagnosis was changed to
Type 1 before the 2009 season.
Mark married Stephanie Morgan on December 4, 2010.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lowe, Mark
1983 births
Living people
Baseball players from Houston
American expatriate baseball players in Canada
Major League Baseball pitchers
Seattle Mariners players
Texas Rangers players
Los Angeles Angels players
Cleveland Indians players
Toronto Blue Jays players
Detroit Tigers players
UT Arlington Mavericks baseball players
Everett AquaSox players
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers players
Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino players
San Antonio Missions players
West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx players
Tacoma Rainiers players
Round Rock Express players
Frisco RoughRiders players
Syracuse Chiefs players
Wisconsin Woodchucks players
Columbus Clippers players
Sugar Land Skeeters players
People with type 1 diabetes