Justin Lawrence
Justin Anthony Lawrence
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 3", Weight 213 lb.
- School Jacksonville University, Daytona Beach Community College
- High School First Coast High School
- Debut April 29, 2021
- Born November 25, 1994 in Canal Zone, Panama
Biographical Information[edit]
Pitcher Justin Lawrence made his major league debut with the Colorado Rockies during the 2021 season. The Rockies had drafted him in the 12th round of the 2015 amateur draft out of Daytona Beach Community College, where he had transferred after first attending Jacksonville University.
In 2023, he emerged as one of the main users of the faddish new pitch, the sweeper, throwing it with great success. Mastering the new pitch had helped him take a big step forward after posting an ERA of 8.64 in 19 games as a rookie and 5.70 in 38 games in 2022.
Lawrence grew up in Florida but was born in what was formerly the Panama Canal Zone during the transition period that lasted from 1979 to 1999 during which the area was jointly administered by the United States and Panama. It has since reverted to full Panamanian control. In January 2020, he was handed an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, DHCMT, which is regularly linked to a banned steroid. Because the 2020 minor league season was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic, he was considered to have served his suspension during that year and was able to make his debut with the Rockies in April of 2021. Given his Panama birth location, he was able to pitch for the Panamanian national team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He fared well in two outings. Relieving Matt Hardy, he closed out a 12-5 win over host Taiwan by retiring Yu Chang and Nien-Ting Wu on grounders and then whiffing Chen-Wei Chen. He also pitched the 9th in a 13-4 loss to Cuba. Replacing Javy Guerra, he again was perfect, retiring Dayán García and striking out both Luis Mateo and Andrys Pérez.
Further Reading[edit]
- Sam Dykstra: "Rockies' Lawrence suspended 80 games: No. 18 prospect tested positive for banned performance enhancer", MiLB.com, January 17, 2020. [1]
- Manny Randhawa: "Rising reliever sees his signature pitch ... on the highway?", mlb.com, May 31, 2023. [2]
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