Lowe indicated discomfort after fouling off a pitch, which prompted the team to assess his condition.

Josh Lowe of the Tampa Bay Rays sustained an oblique injury during the team's season opener on March 28, 2025, a recurrence of a similar injury that sidelined him for 46 games last season.

Despite the injury, Lowe managed to hit a two-out single but experienced pain while running to first base, ultimately leading to his replacement by José Caballero.

Following the game, Lowe expressed frustration over the injury, noting that he felt fine during spring training and was puzzled by its occurrence.

In the previous season, Lowe had a batting average of .241, hitting 10 home runs and driving in 34 RBIs over 106 games, while also dealing with hip inflammation.

Mangum has a .310 batting average in 256 games at Triple-A over the past two years and previously set an SEC record with 383 hits while at Mississippi State.

Lowe had a successful spring training and was expected to play a key role for the Rays this season.

The Rays announced that Lowe would undergo an MRI on March 29, 2025, to evaluate the injury, which they noted felt different from last year's issue.

Jake Mangum, who had a productive 2024 season with a .317 batting average, six home runs, and 56 RBIs in 104 games, was scratched from the Triple-A Durham lineup on the same day as Lowe's injury.

In response to Lowe's injury, the Rays recalled Mangum from Triple-A Durham to fill the roster spot, potentially marking his MLB debut.

The article will be updated as more information becomes available about Lowe's condition.