Reds left‑hander Rhett Lowder tossed a 45 pitches simulated outing Wednesday at Citi Field, the first live work since his right‑shoulder injury. He faced a handful of teammates, including outfielder Will Benson, and reported feeling good about his mechanics. The three‑inning session marked the next milestone in a rehab program that began after Lowder left a May 7 start early.

If he emerges healthy, the Reds plan to send Lowder to Triple‑A Louisville for a 70‑pitch rehab start against Memphis on Tuesday. Manager Terry Francona said the club isn’t rushing the process, emphasizing range‑of‑motion work and muscle activation over simply rebuilding velocity. Lowder’s last MLB appearance left him 3‑3 with a 5.40 ERA this season, overall for Cincinnati as a prospect.

Lowder debuted in August 2024, posting a 1.17 ERA over six starts before missing 2025 with a forearm strain. He was the seventh overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Wake Forest. Should the rehab start go well, Francona hinted Lowder could rejoin the major‑league rotation later this season, giving Cincinnati a fresh left‑hand arm to the staff as.