Rhett Lowder

The ACC pitcher of the year in 2022 and 2023, Lowder pounds the strike zone with a well-rounded arsenal. The Reds used the seventh overall pick on the 6-foot-2 righty from Wake Forest after he logged a 1.87 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 143:24 K:BB in 120.1 innings across 19 starts as a junior. His changeup might be his lone plus pitch, but his fastball and slider project as above-average offerings. Lowder's fastball sits in the low 90s and can touch 97 mph with sink while his sweeping slider sits in the mid-80s. His plus control combined with the lack of effort in his delivery give him a pretty high floor if he can avoid significant injuries. Lowder throws all three of his offerings over 30 percent of the time, and he could be a quick mover through the minors. He opened the season at High-A Dayton and moved quickly to Double-A Chattanooga after five starts. Read Past Outlooks