Casey Lawrence

Casey Lee Lawrence (born October 28, 1987), nicknamed "Twig",[1] is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners and for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Casey Lawrence
Lawrence with the Seattle Mariners in 2017
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1987-10-28) October 28, 1987
McSherrystown, Pennsylvania
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: April 8, 2017, for the Toronto Blue Jays
NPB: July 3, 2019, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
MLB statistics
(through 2018 season)
Win–loss record3–3
Earned run average6.64
Strikeouts66
NPB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average10.80
Strikeouts3
Teams

High school and college

Lawrence attended Delone Catholic High School in his hometown of McSherrystown, Pennsylvania.[2] Undrafted out of high school, he then went to Albright College, where he pitched and played first base.[3] In four seasons for Albright, Lawrence pitched to an 18–8 win–loss record and 2.81 earned run average in 256​2⁄3 innings. He holds the all-time strikeout record for Albright, with 251.[4] As a first baseman, he batted .256 with four home runs and 41 runs batted in.[3]

Professional career

Minor league career

Lawrence was not selected in the 2010 Major League Baseball draft, and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as an undrafted free agent.[5][6] In lieu of a signing bonus, Lawrence received a plane ticket to Dunedin, Florida.[7] He was assigned to the Short Season-A Auburn Doubledays, where he was named a mid-season All-Star,[8] and earned a promotion to the Class-A Lansing Lugnuts before the end of the season. In total, Lawrence went 7–2 in 2010, with a 2.33 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 77​1⁄3 innings.[2] Lawrence pitched the majority of the 2011 season with Lansing, and was called up to the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays four separate times for brief stints.[8] On July 1, he held a 5–8 record and 4.40 ERA with Lansing but managed to turn his season around, going 9–1 with a 1.93 ERA from that point onward.[7] In his four starts for Dunedin in 2011, Lawrence went 3–1 with a 2.84 ERA and 14 strikeouts.[2]

Lawrence opened the 2012 campaign with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats.[8] After struggling in three appearances, he was assigned back to Dunedin, where he finished the season. In 151​1⁄3 total innings, he posted a 9–7 win–loss record, 3.87 ERA, and 96 strikeouts.[2] Lawrence went to Major League spring training with the Blue Jays as a non-roster invitee, and was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on April 8.[8] He was demoted to Dunedin the following day, and remained with Dunedin for most of the 2013 season, making two appearances for both New Hampshire in August.[8] All told, Lawrence finished the year with a 4–7 record, 4.53 ERA, and 63 strikeouts in 103​1⁄3 innings.[2] Lawrence pitched the entire 2014 season with New Hampshire, going 9–9 with a 3.69 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 151​1⁄3 innings pitched.[2] In the offseason, he made eight appearances for the Bravos de Margarita of the Venezuelan Winter League.[2]

Lawrence participated in 2015 Major League spring training, and played mostly for New Hampshire that year, making one start for Buffalo in May.[8] In August, he set the all-time wins record with New Hampshire after earning his 20th win as a Fisher Cat.[9] In a career-high 167​2⁄3 innings, he went 12–14 with a 4.56 ERA and 97 strikeouts.[2] Lawrence returned to the Bravos de Margarita in the offseason, pitching an additional 36​2⁄3 innings.[2] 2016 saw Lawrence remain in Triple-A for the first significant amount of time in his career, as he split the year with the Bisons and Fisher Cats. In 28 total starts, he would post an 8–12 record, 4.17 ERA, and 108 strikeouts.[2] On November 7, 2016, Lawrence elected free agency. He re-signed with the Blue Jays organization on November 14.[8] For the third-consecutive offseason, Lawrence played winter ball with the Bravos de Margarita.[2] He took part in Major League spring training and was assigned to Triple-A in late March. On April 4, Lawrence was announced as the Opening Day starter for Buffalo.[10] Due to two separate weather delays and his call-up to the Majors, Lawrence did not make the start on Opening Day.[11]

Toronto Blue Jays

On April 8, 2017, Lawrence was called up by the Blue Jays.[12] He made his MLB debut that night against the Tampa Bay Rays, taking the loss after walking in the winning run in the 11th inning.[13] Lawrence was designated for assignment on May 8.[14]

Seattle Mariners

On May 11, 2017, Lawrence was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners.[15] On June 1, he set a Mariners franchise record for most strikeouts in a single relief appearance when he struck out 9 batters over 5 innings against the Colorado Rockies.[16] Lawrence earned his first major league win on August 1, pitching 2​1⁄3 innings of relief against the Texas Rangers in an 8–7 Mariners win.[17] Between the two teams, for the season he was 2-3 with a 6.34 ERA. Left-handed batters had a higher batting average against him, .388 (in 20 or more innings), than against all other MLB pitchers.[18] He elected free agency on November 6, 2017, and signed a minor league contract with the Mariners on December 7.[19]

Lawrence's contract was purchased by the Mariners on March 28, 2018, and he was assigned to the Opening Day roster.[20] For the season, he was 1-0 with a 7.33 ERA. He was released on November 29, 2018, in order to pursue a playing career in Japan.[21]

Hiroshima Toyo Carp

On December 4, 2018, Lawrence signed with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[22]

On December 2, 2019, he become free agent.[23]

Minnesota Twins

On January 28, 2020, Lawrence signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins. He was released before the 2020 season began. On August 10, 2020, Lawrence resigned with the Twins on a minor league contract. He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.

References
  1. "【一問一答】新助っ投ローレンス「ニックネームの話から入りますが…」". デイリー (in Japanese). January 25, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  2. "Casey Lawrence Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  3. "Albright College Athletics - Casey Lawrence". albrightathletics.com. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  4. Elliott, Bob (July 6, 2011). "Pitcher came from out of nowhere". torontosun.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  5. Elliott, Bob (April 24, 2014). "Blue Jays prospect Casey Lawrence has high expectations for himself in New Hampshire". torontosun.com. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  6. Klinger, Jacob (July 25, 2014). "Undrafted, unheralded Casey Lawrence comes home to pitch against Harrisburg Senators". pennlive.com. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  7. Lott, John (March 8, 2012). "Jays prospect Casey Lawrence loves proving people wrong". news.nationalpost.com. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  8. "Casey Lawrence Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  9. Miller, Zach (August 15, 2015). "Undrafted pitcher Casey Lawrence sets records with Toronto's Class AA affiliate". eveningsun.com. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  10. "Lawrence named Bisons Opening Day Starter". MiLB.com. April 4, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  11. Arlington, Blake (April 8, 2017). "Bisons get Rowdy in Opening Day Win". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  12. "Blue Jays recall pitcher Casey Lawrence, option Leone". Sportsnet. April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  13. "Lawrence walks home winner as Rays top Blue Jays in 11". Sportsnet. April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  14. Todd, Jeff (May 8, 2017). "Blue Jays Place Russell Martin On 10-Day DL, Designate Casey Lawrence". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  15. Todd, Jeff (May 11, 2017). "Mariners Claim Casey Lawrence". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  16. Nichols, Dave (June 1, 2017). "Mariners Log: Rockies end M's win streak as Yovani Gallardo gets roughed up". The Spokesman Review. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  17. "Cano helps push Mariners past Rangers, 8-7". The National Post. August 1, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  18. Splits Leaderboards | FanGraphs
  19. Adams, Steve (December 7, 2017). "Mariners, Casey Lawrence Agree To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  20. "Mariners' Casey Lawrence: Has contract selected". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  21. Mariners release Casey Lawrence so he can pitch in Japan | Tacoma News Tribune
  22. "ケーシー・ローレンス選手、選手契約合意！". 広島東洋カープ公式サイト (in Japanese). December 4, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  23. "2019年度 自由契約選手". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved December 22, 2019.
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