Mets activate Jed Lowrie from IL

On September 7, 2019—240 days after the New York Mets signed him to a two-year contract—Jed Lowrie will suit up and be eligible to enter a game for the first time with his new team.

The infield was activated from the 60-day IL prior to the club’s Saturday night game against the Philadelphia Phillies. To make room for Lowrie, the team moved Dominic Smith to the 60-day IL. The Mets also announced that they had recalled pitcher Drew Gagnon from Triple-A Syracuse.

Lowrie signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Mets on January 10. In 157 games for the Oakland Athletics in 2018, Lowrie slashed .267/.353/.448 with 23 home runs, a 123 wRC+, and a 5.0 fWAR. Early on in spring training, Lowrie experienced soreness and pain in his left knee and was sent for an MRI. He experienced setbacks throughout the year and also suffered a calf strain in July. At times, it seemed like Lowrie would never make it onto the field for the Mets in 2019.

He finally began his rehab assignment and split time between the Syracuse Mets and the Brooklyn Cyclones. In 12 games at the Triple-A level, he hit .250/.313/.409 with two home runs. He also appeared for the Cyclones in the NY Penn League playoffs and hit a solo homer that accounted for the lone run in the team’s game two victory. For now, Lowrie will give Mickey Callaway a reliable and veteran switch-hitting bat off the bench for the stretch run.