Brandon Lowe Rays extension | MLB.com

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — The Rays and infielder/outfielder Brandon Lowe have agreed to a six-year, $24 million contract extension with two club options, a source confirmed to MLB.com late Tuesday night. The club has not confirmed the deal, but it’s expected to become official Wednesday.
Lowe, 24, got called up

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — The Rays and infielder/outfielder Brandon Lowe have agreed to a six-year, $24 million contract extension with two club options, a source confirmed to MLB.com late Tuesday night. The club has not confirmed the deal, but it’s expected to become official Wednesday.

Lowe, 24, got called up on Aug. 4 last season and has appeared in just 43 big league games. The left-handed hitter started his career with an 0-for-19 skid at the plate, but finished with six home runs and an .884 OPS over his last 37 games in the Major Leagues.

In an effort to keep his bat in the lineup as often as possible, the Rays have moved Lowe across the infield and outfield this spring. Lowe has played first base, second base and left field for Tampa Bay over the last month. With the extension, Lowe would be eligible to become a free agent after his age-30 season.

Giving Lowe an extension after 43 games is a risk for the Rays, but they believe the 24-year-old has the defensive versatility and more than enough upside at the plate to make this deal worth it. The team’s No. 9 prospect has continued to display his prowess at the plate, leading the team with 14 RBIs during Grapefruit League play.

It isn’t the first time a team has taken a chance on Lowe. The once-130-pound Lowe had no scholarship offers heading into his senior year at Nansemond River High School in Virginia. After a series of workouts during the summer before his senior season, the University of Maryland ultimately extended an offer that Lowe accepted.

Lowe went on to reward the Terrapins for being the lone school to extend a scholarship. Despite tearing his left ACL during his freshman season, Lowe bounced back to lead the Terrapins in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage as a redshirt freshman. With a couple of strong seasons in College Park, the Rays selected Lowe in the third round of the 2015 Draft.

Since being drafted, Lowe has shown a consistent ability to hit through the Rays system. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound infielder/outfielder hit 22 home runs in just 100 games in the Minor Leagues last season between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham.

“He hits a lot,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “He can really hit.”

The Rays are hoping — and banking — that he keeps on hitting for at least the next six seasons.