Alum Exerts Mound Control

Dodgers Pitcher Enjoys Best Season of Career, Will Face Fellow Terp in World Series

By Hunter Dortenzo Oct 19, 2020

Adam Kolarek of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who played for the Terps in 2008-09, pitches against the San Diego Padres in Game Three of the National League Division Series on Oct. 8.

Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Adam Kolarek of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who played for the Terps in 2008-2010, pitches against the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Oct. 8.

As the Los Angeles Dodgers came back to defeat the Atlanta Braves, 4-3, in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night, former Terp Adam Kolarek added a World Series berth to his best season of baseball.

The Baltimore native led the team in ERA (0.95) during its league-best regular season (43-17). It's been a heady ride for an 11th-round draft pick who spent seven years in the minors before getting his shot on an MLB mound.

“He’s resilient, and whenever we’ve needed him, he’s answered the bell,” Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said.

Read the full story on the Maryland Athletics website.

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Department of Intercollegiate Athletics

For the first time in more than 50 years, a Terp is headed to the World Series—and it's two Terps.

Brandon Lowe, who played for Maryland 2013-15, is in his third year as a second baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays, who edged past the Houston Astros 4-2 Saturday night in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

He became just the sixth Terrapin in program history—and the first since 1969—to advance to the World Series, joining Ron Swoboda (1969), Charlie Keller (1939, 1941-43), Vic Keen (1926), Fred Anderson (1917) and Buck Herzog (1911-13, 1917). Adam Kolarek became the seventh with the Dodgers’ win over the Braves on Sunday night.

Lowe, an American League MVP candidate, flourished during the 2020 regular season, leading the Rays in all major offensive statistics. In 2019, Lowe earned a trip to the MLB All-Star Game and was a finalist for the AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award.

A 2015 D1Baseball.com Second Team All-American, Lowe was a career .338 hitter with 10 home runs and 30 doubles as a Terp. He was named a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2015 and helped Maryland to consecutive Super Regional appearances in 2014 and 2015. Lowe was drafted in the third round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Rays and made his MLB debut on Aug. 5, 2018.