More on Lowther's promotion to the Orioles

Zac Lowther is in the bullpen this afternoon as the Orioles close out their series against the Athletics. Whether he stays there, and with the Orioles, can't be answered today.

The Orioles recalled Lowther from the alternate training site in Bowie for a specific purpose this afternoon.

"The need for somebody who can give us multiple innings," manager Brandon Hyde said in his Zoom call with the media. "And Zac being on roster, throwing the ball well at the alternate site, having a good spring training, even though he didn't throw much on the main field. He did throw a lot on the back field and he threw the ball well.

"After the last couple nights, we felt like we needed somebody to give us some length in case we need it and we decided to call Zac up."

The Orioles are listing Wednesday night's starter as TBD. Dean Kremer is eligible to return from Bowie. Lowther is a consideration to join the rotation at some point. But not now.

"I think he's a candidate to start or be in the bullpen," Hyde said. "We're calling him up today in case we need some length out of our bullpen and go from there."

Lowther joins outfielder Ryan McKenna and pitcher Tyler Wells as Orioles who made the leap from Double-A to the majors. Wells is a Rule 5 selection.

"The lost Triple-A season last year is just different for everybody, so some of these guys might be getting here a little quicker than normal and not have the Triple-A at-bats, innings on the mount, etc., that normally you would want just because last year was a punt in the minor leagues," Hyde said.

"It is what it is for right now and we feel good about how Zac was throwing at the alternate site and we're going to give him an opportunity."

MLBPipeline.com ranks Lowther as the No. 11 prospect in the system and Baseball America places him 19th. He's been a strikeout artist without the blazing fastball, depending instead on a high spin rate and deception. Scouts regard his curveball as above average. They rave about his "pitchability" and competitive nature.

Lowther didn't expect to be at Camden Yards less than a full month into the season. Didn't see it coming. Didn't have his bags packed.

"After spring. I went to Bowie at the alternate site and just kept getting my work in," he said. "I knew that it takes me a little while to get going, and being able to go down there in a more relaxed environment, get the work in, see high-level guys and get my stuff in was going to get me into a better position to get here.

"It was a little surprising how early it happened, but I'm really excited about it."

Lowther said wife Brianna and daughter Isabelle Grace joined him yesterday and they were able to share the news as a family. Though the most important task was letting the baby sleep.

"My daughter went to sleep around eight and me and my wife crashed right after the Orioles game," he said. "I rolled over, put my phone down and the ringer was on loud, so I was scared about waking up my daughter. My wife rolls over and she goes, 'What? What happened?' I go, 'I just got called up,' and she's like, 'Is this a dream?'

"So being able to kind of tell her like in person there was really exciting. And then hopped over in the bathroom to make a call to my parents and her parents. They're all making the trip down and it's going to be really fun.

"I feel like I'm really ready. Just being able to see the competition last year at Bowie and then this year again getting the outings in spring. I think just the buildup was really good this year for me, and knowing what to expect when you go to your second big league camp and you're around the guys that have done it before, asking questions and getting a feel of how things go up here. So when I got here today it was like I belonged and just being able to kind of find my way."

The Orioles designated veteran left-hander Wade LeBlanc for assignment after last night's game. LeBlanc retired only five batters and could return to the free agent market. He also could come back to the organization.

Hyde described the meeting in his office as "extremely hard."

"Really like Wade a lot," he said. "He's a pro. We talked a lot about him yesterday. He's a bigtime pro, he's great in our clubhouse, one of our few veteran guys that we have, and it's not easy to have that conversation with somebody like that."

Ryan Mountcastle is in the lineup today at first base. He's in a 1-for-24 slump and has struck out 24 times in 69 at-bats this month.

"I think he's expanding the strike zone a little bit too much, and so they're taking advantage of it," Hyde said. "They're noticing it and not giving him ... burying sliders or really elevating fastballs with two strikes. And what he did so well last year was being able to lay off those and get in better counts, get better pitches to hit. So it's more of him chasing pitches, not being on time, maybe early, maybe missing a pitch early and then chasing late in the count and they're just exposing him a little bit with that.

"He has to get back to a little bit better strike zone management. We talked a lot about it. He's very, very aware. He's a little frustrated in his performance so far and we have a lot of confidence in Ryan and I think Ryan's going to turn it around here real quick.

Chris Davis, on the 60-day injured list with a lower-back injury, isn't in Sarasota. That's the only update.

"Just rehabbing," Hyde said.

For the Athletics
Mark Canha LF
Jed Lowrie DH
Matt Olson 1B
Ramón Laureano CF
Matt Chapman 3B
Stephen Piscotty RF
Elvis Andrus SS
Aramis Garcia C
Vimael Machin 2B

Jesús Luzardo LHP