Brandon Lowe began to tear the Band-Help off throughout Spring Coaching.
The Pirates second baseman confronted his former staff, the Tampa Bay Rays, and took the additional step of requesting to make the journey to Port Charlotte, Fla. The concept of sporting new colours or seeing longtime mates isn’t fully new for Lowe.
However this weekend, throughout the common season when the outcomes depend? Totally different beast.
“It’s gonna be unusual,” Lowe stated. “The actually bizarre half will likely be going through [Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen] on Saturday. Our boys have been finest mates. My spouse and his spouse have been actually shut. Me and him have been actually shut. I’ve by no means confronted him. I’m gonna attempt to not crack a smile after I stroll as much as the plate. … Most likely will find yourself doing it anyway.”
It received’t be a grudge sequence or something like that for Lowe, Mangum and Montgomery. Removed from it. They’ve maintained friendships on the opposite facet, and so they very a lot admire what the Rays have meant to their careers.
“Quite a lot of locations didn’t give me the possibility. They did,” stated Mangum, who hung out with the Mets and Marlins earlier than making his MLB debut with Tampa Bay final season. “I’m tremendous grateful for that.”
The Rays drafted Montgomery within the sixth spherical in 2021. His profession as a beginning pitcher started to stall a couple of years later, with the left-hander finally transitioning to reduction work.
There was an prompt uptick in velocity, however Montgomery has additionally navigated loads of twists and turns in terms of management and life as a reliever.
Pittsburgh might have acquired Montgomery simply as he finds his footing, however the journey began with the small-market, pitching-savvy and development-minded Rays.
“I’m excited to see all the fellows,” Montgomery stated. “I’ve some good mates over there. It’ll be cool to see all of them. Then simply excited to compete and have some enjoyable.”
It’s a standard reply, as taking part in towards your loved ones staff is hardly a international idea in sports activities.
The twist right here is three gamers doing it directly, all for the primary time, all three arriving within the December three-way deal that despatched Mike Burrows to the Astros.
“It’ll be a bit of reunion,” Montgomery stated.
And hopefully some good baseball.
The Pirates (11-8) and Rays (11-7) sit atop their respective divisions, whereas Tampa Bay had gone 8-2 in its final 10 whereas profitable six in a row.
The organizations additionally function in related methods, particularly in terms of pitching acquisition and improvement, a non-negotiable benefit for small-market groups.
Particularly in terms of the Pirates’ homegrown beginning rotation, they’ve churned out a bunch of arms.
In the meantime, Pittsburgh made an aggressive push this season to repair its offense, and the outcomes have been exhausting to disregard: Solely six groups have greater than the Pirates’ 95 runs coming into Friday, whereas a mere 5 had the next staff OPS (.735).
That’ll completely play. The Pirates and Rays additionally place the same emphasis on pace, platoon splits and lineups able to passing the baton, as we’ve heard loads this week.
In the meantime, in terms of those that’ve seen each side, they’ve loved the method. They’ve constructed relationships and admire how each groups have impacted their careers.
“I’ve loads of mates over there,” Mangum stated. “It’s gonna be enjoyable. Clearly hope we win each recreation we performed towards them, however I’m pulling for lots of these guys. Can’t communicate extremely sufficient about everyone over there.”
Lowe was with the Rays the longest, drafted by them within the third spherical out of Maryland in 2015. Three years later, after some swing adjustments within the Minors designed to juice each ounce of energy out of his 5-foot-9 body, Lowe made his MLB debut in 2018.
Lowe has been a two-time All-Star with 39- and 31-homer seasons and was a particularly well-respected clubhouse chief, traits which are beginning to develop into an increasing number of evident in Pittsburgh.
Dealing with Shane McClanahan in Spring Coaching gave Lowe a style. They’d performed collectively since 2021, so it received’t be fully international. Lowe’s additionally very completely happy in Pittsburgh and doesn’t plan on letting his focus drift.
“One saving grace is that should you return to the 2020 [World Series] staff, [McClanahan] and Yandy [Díaz] are actually the one two left,” Lowe stated. “It’ll be rather less bizarre in that side.”
“However when it comes right down to it, after the umpire says ‘play ball,’ it’s enterprise. It doesn’t matter how unusual it feels; you’re taking part in for the fellows who’re in your clubhouse. It’ll be enjoyable.”
