World Series champion Nathaniel Lowe of the Texas Rangers headlined the 32nd Annual Patriot Baseball Banquet on Friday night at Dallas Baptist University. Lowe, who enters his sixth year in the Major Leagues, was joined on stage by DBU's Associate Director of Athletics for Media Relations, Reagan Ratcliff, as Lowe shared his memories of the Rangers' run to a World Series title in 2023 and how his faith in Christ has impacted his life. 
 
Nathaniel and his brother Josh grew up in a baseball family and are one of fewer than 300 brothers to have played in the history of Major League Baseball. A 13th-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016, Lowe reached the Big Leagues in 2019 before being traded to the Texas Rangers in 2020. 
 
Over the past three seasons, Lowe has been an integral part of a Rangers' team that has gone from the worst record in baseball in 2020 to clinching the organization's first World Series title in 2023. He also won the American League's Silver Slugger Award for first baseman in 2022 after posting career-highs in batting average (.302), home runs (27), and slugging percentage (.492).
 
DBU Baseball also honored the careers of Colin Poche and Drew Smith as inductees into the DBU Circle of Honor. Poche was an All-American and the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2016 and enters his fourth year in the Major Leagues with the Tampa Bay Rays, while Smith starred for three seasons on the mound for the Patriots and was a key part of one of the top bullpens in the nation on DBU's 2015 team that hosted the Dallas Regional. Smith broke into the Majors in 2018 and is going into his sixth season with the New York Mets. 
 
DBU Assistant Director of Athletics for Creative Services & Digital Media Brendan Smith joined Poche and Smith on stage to relive memories of their time at DBU and the impact the program made in their lives. With the presentation of jackets to Poche and Smith, which features the DBU circle of honor emblem, the tandem joins Brandon Bantz, Victor Black, Josh Causey, Ryan Goins, Jason Krizan, and Ben Zobrist as the eight members who have received this distinguished award.
 
During the evening, DBU Head Baseball Coach Dan Heefner shared his vision for the program and his thoughts on the upcoming season. This year's Patriots' team returns 16 lettermen from a team that reached the NCAA postseason for the ninth consecutive year, reaching the finals of the Stillwater Regional. DBU also welcomes a recruiting class that features 22 newcomers.
 
The Patriots open their 2024 season on Friday, February 16, when DBU hosts Southeast Missouri at Horner Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. 
 
 Season ticket packages are available at www.dbutickets.com.