This entry was posted on 8/9/2008 7:27 PM and is filed under uncategorized.
Make no mistake about it.
Jed Lowrie wants to be a Major League shortstop.
Major League scouts have likened him to switch-hitting third baseman/second baseman and former Sox batting champion Bill Mueller, but the Stanford University product is aiming to make his statement at short. It was striking earlier this season how adamant Sox General Manager Theo Epstein was about Lowrie’s long term future at the shortstop position – particularly when the infielder showed he could very adeptly play short, second or third base – but both boss and budding ballplayer seem to be on the same positional page.
“I feel like I can benefit this team from the shortstop position more than any place on the field,” said Lowrie, who has yet to make an error in 184 innings and has turned 8 double plays this season. “I know I can help this team out at second base and third, but my most natural position is short.”
Confidence doesn’t seem in short supply for the 24-year-old infield prospect, and consistent repetitions at shortstop have allowed the 6-foot, 180-pounder to showcase both offensive and defensive skills. Through the first 37 games of his Major League career, Lowrie is hitting .288 with a home run and 22 RBIs and hasn’t made an error while shuttling between three infield positions.
A constant rhythm of offensive and defensive dependability has developed as the young infielder has earned the starting nod in 18 of the last 20 games at shortstop – a key factor in the rookie’s comfort level in the middle of the infield.
“Any player will tell you that [consistent playing time] makes it easier,” said Lowrie. “The more at bats I get, the more pitches I see, the more pitchers I see…the more comfortable I get. When you get that opportunity you’ve got to make the most of it.
“You want to show what you can do. I didn’t show up and say that this is my time, but I came up with the same approach I’ve had my entire career,” added Lowrie. “I’ve always been taught to go up to the plate with a regular approach and hit the ball where it’s being pitched.
The Salem, Oregon native grew up emulating Carlos Guillen while he played for the Seattle Mariners as – shock of shocks -- a switch-hitting shortstop, and now the 24-year-old finds himself playing every day in Boston’s lineup as a switch-hitting shortstop.
What was the fascination with Guillen?
“It’s pretty simple: he was a switch-hitting shortstop,” said Lowrie. “I always respected the way he approached the game; he’s a patient hitter and he really gets the job done very professionally.”
Sox Manager Terry Francona and the front office have been quick to temper expectations and judgments given that the Lowrie has barely totaled 100 career at bats – but continued steady play from Lowrie could evolve into the up-and-coming rookie making high-priced veteran Julio Lugo expendable.
For the time being, the Sox skipper remains impressed.
“He’s kinda Billy Mueller-ish, which isn’t so bad,” said Francona. “It means he’s a switch-hitter that swings at strikes and hits the ball in the gap. You don’t know after 80 or 90 at bats what a kid is going to be, but he’s really an interesting young hitter.”
The self-assured youngster has already proven to be an interesting stopgap shortstop while Julio Lugo is on the mend – all that remains is unproven is if Lowrie can be the permanent shortstop answer that’s eluded the Sox over the last three seasons.
