Brian Lawrence: Late 2000's Mets Pitcher (2007)
.jpg)
Inn 1998 Lawrence was signed by the San Diego Padres in the 17th round of the draft. He became the first player from NSU baseball player to reach the big leagues since Jim Willis in 1953.
MLB Career: Lawrence debuted in 2001 going 5-5 with a 3.45 ERA. He earned his way into the Padres rotation for the next three years getting into double figures in wins each time. In 2002 he was 12-12 then fell off to a 10-15 year in 2003.
MLB Career: Lawrence debuted in 2001 going 5-5 with a 3.45 ERA. He earned his way into the Padres rotation for the next three years getting into double figures in wins each time. In 2002 he was 12-12 then fell off to a 10-15 year in 2003.
In 2004 he became the sixth Padres pitcher to start consecutive Opening Days.
On June 12th, in an inter-league game against the Baltimore Orioles he became the 24th pitcher in MLB history to strike out three batters on nine pitches.
Back-to-Back Complete Games: On August 25th Lawrence allowed just one run in a complete game win over the Marlins. He followed up his next start with a complete game shut out over the Mets. He was the first Padre to have consecutive complete games since Andy Ashby in 1998.
The next season his arm began to give him trouble as he fell to a 7-15 record with a 4.83 ERA. He was rated as having the slowest fastball of any starting pitcher in the majors, averaging at 83 mph.
Lawrence's arm problem got worse from there as he would miss all of the 2006 season due to a torn rotator cuff. The Nationals released him that winter and he was signed by the Colorado Rockies but released after Spring Training.
Mets Career: In May 2007 he was signed by the New York Mets. The Mets assigned him to AAA New Orleans where he went 8-3 with a 3.81 ERA in 13 games as a starter.
On August 2nd he made his first MLB start in almost two years, going against the Brewers in Milwaukee. He went five innings earning the win, although he gave up three runs the Mets had a big day scoring 12 runs in a 12-4 victory.
Retirement: After pitching in the minor leagues with the Florida Marlins, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants & the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim he pitched in Independent League baseball. He then became a coach in the Frontier League & California League.
On August 2nd he made his first MLB start in almost two years, going against the Brewers in Milwaukee. He went five innings earning the win, although he gave up three runs the Mets had a big day scoring 12 runs in a 12-4 victory.
His next start at Shea Stadium against the Florida Marlins would be his best, allowing just two runs in six innings with six strike outs, unfortunately the Mets lost the game 4-3 as Billy Wagner blew the save.
Lawrence would start four more games for the Mets taking the loss in two of them finishing up at 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA, with 18 strike outs in 29 innings pitched.
Lawrence would start four more games for the Mets taking the loss in two of them finishing up at 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA, with 18 strike outs in 29 innings pitched.
Career Stats: In his MLB six-year career he is 50-63 posting a 4.19 ERA, with seven complete.
games &three shut outs.
games &three shut outs.
He has 597 strike outs & 268 walks in 963 innings pitched in 168 games in 152 starts.
Family: Brian is married to Maripat (Redman) the younger sister of former MLB pitcher Mark Redman. Brian & his wife have two daughters.
Comments