Newcomer Lowe adapts to life as Nats' well-paid veteran

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Nathaniel Lowe looked around the Nationals clubhouse Sunday morning and tried to get used to a few ideas previously foreign to him.

He’s not only the new guy in camp, having spent the last four seasons with the Rangers. He’s also now a veteran among a sea of promising young players, even though he’s only 29 himself and still two seasons away from free agency.

Oh, he’s also the highest-paid player on the team after ranking ninth last year in Texas as part of a roster that included the likes of Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.

“I hope the guys aren’t scared to say something (to me),” Lowe said, perhaps half-joking and half-serious. “Because I know in that situation, I was freaking out when you see guys with some time. It’s still weird to be considered one of the older guys. But we’ll make the most of it.”

The Nationals acquired Lowe in December for reliever Robert Garcia because he filled a glaring need on their roster: a first baseman who can both hit for power and play smooth defense. And unlike free agents Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, he came relatively cheap (he’ll make $10.3 million this season, with a raise in store for 2026, his final year of arbitration eligibility).

Lowe isn’t as well-known as those two big-name first basemen, but within the sport he’s regarded in nearly the same class. For what it’s worth, MLB Network’s annual “Top First Basemen Right Now” rankings have Lowe No. 9 at his position, directly behind Walker (No. 7) and Alonso (No. 8).

“I think Nate’s going to fit in perfectly here,” general manager Mike Rizzo said.

Rizzo said this one day before the Nationals took Lowe to trial. Unable to agree on their own to salary terms for the coming season, the two sides argued before an arbitration panel Friday, Lowe seeking $11.1 million compared to the club’s $10.3 million offer. In the end, the team won.

It’s part of the business of baseball, but it can make for some awkwardness, especially with a newly acquired player who has yet to take the field for his team. And clearly this process was awkward for Lowe, who when asked Sunday what arbitration was like, paused for a second, smiled and simply responded: “Next.”

There’s plenty of time for the relationship to improve, now that the focus is solely on baseball. Lowe will spend the next five weeks getting to know his new teammates, working extensively with infielders Luis Garcia Jr., CJ Abrams, Jose Tena, Paul DeJong and Amed Rosario, hoping his Gold Glove skills at first base save them all from several throwing errors over the course of the season.

The Nats love Lowe’s glove, but really they need him to hit above all else. In four seasons with Texas, he averaged 26 doubles, 20 homers, 75 RBIs, a .359 on-base percentage and .791 OPS. His numbers slipped a bit last season (16 doubles, 16 homers, 69 RBIs) but he continues to provide a patient approach at the plate and is determined to add a key element to his offensive game.

“More power,” he said. “Everybody wants to hit more homers. So, guilty. I’d like to hit more homers.”

How does he strike a balance between increasing his power production without sacrificing his plate discipline?

“You’ve got to be comfortable hitting line drives first,” he said. “Through camp, I’m not really worried about hitting the ball out of the ballpark. In the drill work, in the cage, in the games, you just want to hit the ball hard.”

So, how do homers ultimately come when the season begins?

“They’re good accidents,” he said. “The intent is to drive the ball upwards, but not to get long. If you can hit the ball hard in the air, it makes it more simple. Hard in the air, it leaves the yard.”

This is what’s expected of Lowe in his first season in D.C. He’s not just one of the guys anymore. He’s one of the main guys, a veteran who has already won a World Series, the highest-paid player on the team.

It’s up to him to embrace the change.