Reds Shut Down Rhett Lowder for Season, Rotation Depth Takes Major Hit
The Cincinnati Reds officially won’t see Rhett Lowder back on the mound in 2025. The rookie right-hander was placed on the 60-day injured list in early June after suffering an oblique injury during a Triple-A rehab start. And now, manager Terry Francona has confirmed that Lowder’s season is over. His next potential game action could come in the Arizona Fall League, following a path similar to Matt McLain, who missed the entire 2024 season with a shoulder issue.
Lowder’s absence deals a serious blow to a Reds rotation already dealing with heavy attrition. Hunter Greene, the staff ace, remains out. Carson Spiers had his rehab assignment halted and may also be facing a season-ending outcome. Meanwhile, Julian Aguiar and Brandon Williamson are still on the shelf as well.
That leaves Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott as the only reliable arms currently in the rotation. Chase Burns is pitching well but is limited by innings restrictions. Nick Martinez has been inconsistent, and Brady Singer is coming off a rough performance.
The Reds’ pitching depth has taken further hits at the minor league level, with Aaron Wilkerson opting out of his contract and signing with the St. Louis Cardinals. That leaves Chase Petty and Brian Van Belle as potential Triple-A call-ups. However, Petty has struggled in limited MLB action, and Van Belle—acquired from the Red Sox—has delivered mixed results with Louisville.
With the trade deadline fast approaching, this latest injury development could force GM Nick Krall to reconsider his approach. Sitting just around the .500 mark and battling an increasingly unstable rotation, the Reds may need to explore acquiring a back-end starter if they hope to remain in the playoff hunt through the final stretch of the season.
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