Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Rhett Lowder throws during a 2024 start. This season has been curtailed due to injury. (Jeff Roberson / AP Photo)

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Cincinnati Reds pitching prospect and former North Stanly ace Rhett Lowder is restarting the rehabilitation process following his latest injury.

On June 11, Lowder (forearm/oblique) reported to the Reds’ complex in Goodyear, Arizona, to begin a rehab program for a left oblique strain that occurred a few weeks earlier during his fourth Minor League rehab start of the season and his second start for Triple-A Louisville.

The 23-year-old Albemarle native was previously recovering from a strained right forearm injury when his rehab assignment was paused after throwing just one pitch in the second inning in a game against the Gwinnett Stripers on May 22.

After an MRI later confirmed the oblique injury diagnosis, Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said Lowder — the Reds’ No. 2 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) and seventh overall selection in the 2023 MLB draft — had an injury that was “fairly significant” and that he would be out “for a while.”

The Reds then transferred Lowder from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on June 4, freeing up a spot on the 40-man roster for lefty Wade Miley.

It was originally reported back on Feb. 15 that Lowder was being handled with caution in Spring Training due to a right elbow injury and that he might not be available for the Reds’ rotation by Opening Day — a delay that has continued to extend well into the 2025 season.

At this point, the former Wake Forest standout right-hander might not be ready to return to big league action until sometime after the All-Star break, if the Reds decide to bring him up at all and not hold him out until the 2026 season.

In his six starts on the mound for the Reds during his rookie season last year, he pitched his way to a 1.17 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 2-2 record, preventing opposing teams from hitting a homerun off him in over 30 innings; Lowder did not allow a run in four of his six starts.

Heading into his most recent rehab assignment start on May 22, he entered with a 0-3 record, 14.21 ERA and 13 hits allowed in 6.1 innings at three Minor League levels, with opposing batters recording a .394 batting average against him.

Lowder will now look to heal up during his current rehab program in Arizona as he prepares to get back into pitching shape for Cincinnati’s Minor League affiliate teams.