# LOCK HIM DOWN: Pirates Must SIGN Brandon Lowe—Losing Elite Power at Second Base Is NOT an Option

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933/lock-him-down-pirates-must-sign-brandon-lowe-losing-elite-power-at-second-base-is-not-an-option
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933/lock-him-down-pirates-must-sign-brandon-lowe-losing-elite-power-at-second-base-is-not-an-option.md
Podcast: [Locked On Pirates - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Pirates](https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933)
Published: 2026-09-01T11:15:24+00:00
Episode link: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-pirates/
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/c332f6/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/ca178804-c720-476f-9857-ad70690e8c6a/episodes/7ee24a1b-d425-4408-b88f-cc03411802d6/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=ca178804-c720-476f-9857-ad70690e8c6a&awEpisodeId=7ee24a1b-d425-4408-b88f-cc03411802d6&feed=z3NI6hOx
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Duration seconds: 1645

## Resource

Pittsburgh Pirates face a franchise-defining decision: will Brandon Lowe return after another standout season at second base? With Lowe crushing 28 home runs and posting elite defensive metrics in 2026, Gary Morgan explores why letting him walk could set the team back—and what it would take to fill the void. Can Nick Gonzales or anyone else step up, or must the Pirates break with tradition to lock in their power-hitting infielder for 2027 and beyond? Gary Morgan scrutinizes the Pirates’ offensive struggles, challenging the narrative that strikeouts alone are their undoing. Power hitting from stars like Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds has masked deeper issues with situational hitting and run manufacturing. As crucial games against the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels loom, can the Pirates’ roster tweaks and a possible Konnor Griffin boost spark a late-season surge? The postseason hopes may hinge on answers this week.

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