Catching up with Jordan Lawlar: Past, Present, and Future
Jordan Lawlar is the Arizona Diamondbacks' top prospect for a reason. He's a potential five-tool shortstop who is capable of making a trip to the All-Star Game every year with plenty of awards potential. However, the 21-year-old shortstop entered his second Major League Spring Training knowing he didn't have a shot to be the team's starting shortstop on Opening Day.
That's because Manager Torey Lovullo told reporters from Day One that Geraldo Perdomo is the team's shortstop. While that ultimately impacted his playing time and his chance to make the team in Spring Training, it didn't deter Lawlar from trying to get better.
"I'm a fierce competitor, I love to go out there and give it my all, try to win every at-bat, every day in the field. I think it's more about finding your definition of success and winning and trying to do that to the best of your ability every day."
The organization optioned Lawlar to Triple-A Reno Aces so he could play every day. The team didn't want him to sit on the bench or rarely play in Major Leagues. The next time he comes up, they want him to play every day and be their everyday infielder, most likely at shortstop. He's far too critical to the team's future sustained success for him to not keep developing. After all, he's only played 16 games at Triple-A. Another month or so can only help him.
Lovullo's message to Lawlar, according to Lawlar, was "Keep doing you. Keep getting better at every facet of the game. Like I mentioned early in the year, that's all you can do so keep improving."
Over 17 at-bats, Lawlar had just three hits but did have a massive homer and two RBI. On the defensive side though, Lawlar regularly showed off his arm and glove with numerous standout defensive webgems. That's an area that he's progressed tremendously from when he was first drafted. He now has Gold Glove potential.
He knows he has improved defensively, from the first year to this year. "Definitely, You can just look at the numbers from the first year to last year. Definitely made some improvements and I feel great out there."
How has he improved his throwing and defense? He worked on his feet and how he positioned himself on the field.
"I think it's more fielding overall honestly. The better you use your feet when you field will set you up into a better position to throw so I think they go hand in hand and if you don't have one, you don't have the other"
On Saturday evening, Lawlar took the field as a representative of the Diamondbacks in MLB's inaugural Spring Breakout Game. Lawlar displayed an impressive glove and a keen eye at the plate. He successfully challenged a called strike three that was overturned to a ball. "I got a pretty good eye." Later in the at-bat, he hit a rocket line drive to the wall for a double. Two of his balls in play came off the bat at over 100mph.
Asked about the event, Lawlar said "It's an exciting event to get some more of our guys out here and to be on the same field with guys like Druw Jones and Tommy Troy."
Of course, nothing beats experience when it comes to becoming an MLB player and knowing how to handle everyday life in the Bigs. That's why the D-backs and GM Mike Hazen had Lawlar on the team's roster throughout the playoffs and World Series chase.
"Experience is the best teacher. That was invaluable. To be there, just to be in the dugout, kind of get used to the routine and figure out what to expect at the playoff level. Everything ramps up times ten and just to be able to be there, cut your teeth there, and witness it firsthand, that was an awesome experience."
As the team progressed to the World Series, Lawlar played minimally but he took notice of the atmosphere and energy that very few young players get to experience in October baseball.
"Nothing much better than that. Everything you can dream of and like a million times better. Just to be in that atmosphere, environment, have all the crowds with you, against you, to do it with that group of guys, It was amazing."
He noted that their losing the World Series has only motivated him to play even better and get back to the postseason and the World Series.
"That stokes the fire even more."
