Brandon Lowe earns All-MLB Second Team honors, a first for the Pirates since roster history

The Pirates’ infield upgrade Brandon Lowe arrived as has paid off in a way measured across a full season of MLB awards voting. On Wednesday, MLB announced that Lowe earned All-MLB Second Team recognition, finishing behind Milwaukee’s Brice Turang for the top spot at second base.

MLB’s release described Lowe’s 2026 production in Pittsburgh as a breakout by several standards: 96 RBIs and an.824 OPS, while leading second basemen with 35 home runs. He was also noted as a National League Silver Slugger Award finalist for a second consecutive season.

The same announcement tied the on-field shift to Pittsburgh’s defense as well. MLB said Lowe improved from a -10 fielding run value in 2025 with the Rays to +12 after moving to Pittsburgh, earning finalist status for the Gold Glove Award for the first time in his career.

MLB credited the All-MLB selection method as a full-season measure rather than a first-half snapshot, explaining that fans voted among nominees for each position with regular-season criteria only. Lowe was listed as one of 12 second-basemen on the ballot, including other NL Central players.

The Pirates’ historical angle was explicit: MLB said Lowe is the first Pirates position player to make an All-MLB team, and that only two Pittsburgh players previously followed a similar path in recent seasons when comparing against Paul Skenes’ All-MLB recognition in 2024 and 2025.

Finally, MLB said Lowe’s contract situation is now tied to offseason status. The release reported he is a free agent with 2026 in the rearview, and that Pittsburgh extended him a $23.15 million qualifying offer to remain with the club in 2027 while indicating interest in bringing him back.