Lowe thanks teammates for winning Pirates MVP

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Rewarded for what he brought to the team, Pirates Roberto Clemente Award winner (team MVP) could only spend time crediting his teammates Tuesday afternoon.

“I’m not in the position that I am and I don’t have the numbers that I have without the guys in this clubhouse,” Brandon Lowe said. “It’s great to win it, but I don’t win it without the guys in here. Being in the lineup, being where I am, having the protection from other guys in the lineup and other guys getting on base in front of me, it’s a team game for a reason.”

Asked why he’s been able to get along with his teammates.

“Other than the fact that you have no choice,” Lowe said in an impressive deadpan.

“You’re in here for 11 hours every day, it feels like. For eight, nine months, you’re with these guys and you spend time together. I don’t know if you’re around somebody as long as you’re around these guys, but you have no other option but to mesh.”

“You become closer, you get those inside jokes, you become a family. You become brothers. Little things annoy you, you get mad at each other, you joke with one another, but you also have these guys’ back through anything.”

Lowe led the Pirates in home runs (33) breaking a team second basemen record and RBI (93). Coming here the expectations were, he would help a dismal home run hitting team find some power, and he did.

“Anytime you get to another team, you want to make the right impact and you want to perform to a high clip, but I think getting traded over and understanding the Pirates were seeking out me, Mason and Mangum, it’s just one of those things where you want to prove them right,” Lowe said. “You want to show them that going out and getting us was the right call and we could help win ball games and play some good baseball. That kind of mentality.”

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“Brandon has been unbelievable,” said Pirates manager Don Kelly. “We talked a lot about it last week when he was Clemente nominee (national Roberto Clemente Award). What he’s meant on the field, in the clubhouse, in the community, you can’t put into words, really. We all see the homers but the defense, the baserunning, the power, the hitter, what he’s meant in the clubhouse has been phenomenal.”

"I don't know the big leagues without Brandon Lowe,” said outfielder Jake Mangum. “I've never had a day in the big leagues without Brandon Lowe. He's a rock star. I think he's one of the most underappreciated players in Major League Baseball. I said it last year and once again he's having a year where I'm saying that again. For how he is in the clubhouse, how he is in the field, he's awesome."

"I think just on a national scale. I think that dude is one of the best players in baseball."

“I gave everything that I could,” Lowe said. “That’s all I could ask for. I gave 100 percent when I had 100 percent.”