Rhett Lowder is one of the top pitchers in the 2023 draft class. His consistency and ability to get outs are among the many reasons why he is considered a top-ten pick in this year’s MLB draft. He is a two-time ACC Pitcher of the Year winner. Many consider him the best pitcher available behind Paul Skenes.
There are 10 potential first rounders in next month’s draft heading to Omaha.
The top four college arms— Paul Skenes, Chase Dollander, Rhett Lowder, Hurston Waldrep
Six of the top ~10 college bats— Dylan Crews, Wyatt Langford, Kyle Teel, Tommy Troy, Brayden Taylor, Brock Wilken
— Harris Yudin (@hayudi18) June 13, 2023
He is 15-0 as a starting pitcher for Wake Forest this season. His ERA is down to around 1.92. He is leading the Demon Deacons to their first appearance in the College World Series since 1955. The most runs he allowed in a start this year was four against the Duke Blue Devils, who made it to the super regionals. Let’s check out some of Lowder’s strengths and weaknesses.
Rhett Lowder 2023 MLB Draft Profile
Strengths
The ACC presented some very tough competition this year in baseball. Even in facing the ACC, Lowder was extremely good and never lost a start. Against a great team in Clemson, he pitched seven innings and only allowed one run. Overall, he is a very consistent pitcher and the backbone of this team. Lowder currently employs a mid-90s fastball. While it’s not yet the triple-digit velocity initially hoped, he can still control the pitch and get strikeouts with it. He also has a very low walk rate, allowing just 21 bases on balls this year.
Lowder also has a very good changeup. It tops out around the middle to upper 80s. His slider is around the same speed and has great motion alongside it. Also, scouts consider his changeup elite, one of the best in the country.
With all of these, and two ACC Pitcher of the Year awards to his name, it’s easy to see why he’s projected as a top-level pick. He has been one of the most consistent college players in the country this year.
Weaknesses
Where is the room for growth? This man is dominant, he really is. But where can he go from here? Can he develop further, or has he maxed out his potential? You see this from a lot of Wake Forest guys, as they have one of the best pitching staffs in the country, and produce great talent. They maximize the talent they have, so when they head to the majors they often stay mostly the same.
This is a tired narrative in sports, but it is honestly one of the few knocks you can have on Lowder.
Pro Comparison: Mike Clevinger
While it has been tough to find pro comparisons on some prospects, comparing Rhett Lowder to Mike Clevinger seems to be spot on. This seems to be the consensus amongst writers. Clevinger played college ball at The Citadel and was selected in the 4th round of the 2011 draft. He currently has a 54-34 career win-loss record. His best season came with the then-Cleveland Indians in 2019, when he went 13-4 with a 2.71 ERA. It took Clevinger a couple of years in the minors to get to the majors. He did deal with some injuries that set him back, and he debuted much later than initially intended. If Lowder is lucky enough not to deal with the injuries that plague many prospects, he should see the majors before long.
What is Lowder’s ceiling? Honestly. he could be a consistent starter in the league! As long as he puts in the work and the hours, he should have an excellent MLB career.
Photo Credit: Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK
Players Mentioned: Rhett Lowder, Paul Skenes, Mike Clevinger
