An eighth-round pick by the
Seattle Mariners, Lowe turned down a basketball scholarship at Michigan to sign with the M's in 1991. After six years as a starter in the minors, he was shipped to the
Boston Red Sox in
July 1997 along with
Jason Varitek for
Heathcliff Slocumb. Shifted to the bullpen by the Red Sox, Lowe became the Boston's closer in 1999, and led the
American League in saves with 42 in 2000. (
GL)