During his freshman season at Wake Forest in 2021, Lowder appeared in 14 games (making 12 starts) in which he went 4–2 with a 6.12 ERA, 78 strikeouts, and 14 home runs allowed over 67.2 innings.[3] That summer, he played for the Strasburg Express of the Valley Baseball League.[4] As a sophomore in 2022, Lowder started 16 games and pitched to an 11–3 record with a 3.08 ERA, 105 strikeouts and 26 walks over 99.1 innings.[5] He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Year, becoming the first ever player from Wake Forest to win the award.[6] Following the season's end, he was named to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team .[7]
In 2023, Lowder went 15–0, leading NCAA Division I in wins, and also finished in the top 10 nationally in ERA (1.87), strikeouts (a school-record 143), and WHIP (0.95), playing a key role in the Deacons' run to the Men's College World Series. Lowder repeated as the ACC Pitcher of the Year, and was also a consensus first-team All-American, the ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and the men's ACC Athlete of the Year across all sports, sharing the last of these honors with women's winner Katelyn Tuohy of NC State cross country and track.[8][9]
Professional career
The Cincinnati Reds selected Lowder in the first round, with the seventh overall selection, of the 2023 MLB draft. On July 14, 2023, Lowder signed with the Reds for an under slot deal worth $5.7 million.[10] Lowder made his professional debut in 2024 with the High–A Dayton Dragons, later receiving promotions to the Double–A Chattanooga Lookouts and Triple–A Louisville Bats. In 22 starts split between the three affiliates, he compiled a 6–4 record and 3.64 ERA with 113 strikeouts across 108+2⁄3 innings pitched.[11]
On August 29, 2024, the Reds announced that Lowder would be promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[12] His contract was formally purchased the next day.[13] After being called up, Lowder went 2–2 over 6 starts with a 1.17 ERA for the Reds in 2024.[14]
The Reds paid particular attention to the health of Lowder's elbow during spring training in 2025.[15] During May, Lowder began making minor league appearances, seeking rehabilitation for a forearm strain.[16][17] On May 23, he suffered an additional oblique strain,[18][19] and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 4.[20][21]
