Matt Lawson

Matthew Ryan Lawson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.
• School Missouri State University
• High School Carl Junction High School

• Born November 18, 1985 in Joplin, MO USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Matt Lawson was part of three major league organizations.

Lawson hit .330 as a sophomore at Missouri State University and stole 20 bases. He was named second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference. As a junior, he fell to .270 with 16 swipes. The Texas Rangers took him in the 14th round of the 2007 amateur draft. He made his pro debut with the Spokane Indians that year, batting .295/.360/.402.

In 2008, Matt fell to .251/.322/.354 with the Clinton Lumber Kings. He stole 18 bases in 25 tries. The next year, the Joplin native put up a .293/.350/.418 line for the Bakersfield Blaze with 8 steals in 13 tries, 10 homers and 127 strikeouts. Baseball America rated him the best defensive second baseman in the California League, which he led in fielding percentage (.980) and assists (410).

Lawson began 2010 with the Frisco RoughRiders, hitting .277/.371/.438 in 76 games and again fielding .980 at second. On July 9, he was traded with Justin Smoak, Blake Beavan and Josh Lueke to the Seattle Mariners for Cliff Lee, Mark Lowe and over $2 million. In spring training the following season, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in return for P Aaron Laffey.

Post Playing Career

Lawson spent 9 years at Missouri State University in various coaching capacities. He started in spring 2012 as a volunteer assistant coach before returning to play in the minors. Once his playing career ended, he went back to MSU to finish his undergraduate degree in psychology and then earned a master's degree in sports management in 2017. Lawson worked with the baseball team throughout this process. He was a student assistant coach in 2014-2015 and a graduate manager in 2016. Lawson gained additional coaching experience during the summers. He was the manager of the Branson Nationals of the MINK League in 2014 and managed the Kalamazoo Growlers in the more prestigious Northwoods League in 2016. For the 2017 season, it is unclear whether he continued as a graduate manager or if he spent the year as a volunteer assistant coach. Lawson joined the coaching staff full-time in July 2017 as the Bears' hitting coach and recruiting coordinator. He stayed in this position through the 2021 season.

The Texas Rangers hired Lawson as a hitting coach for the Round Rock Express in 2022 and he returned there in 2023. In the latter year, Round Rock hitters manufactured over six runs per game while posting the most walks (733) in a single season in club history. Under his tutelage, OF prospect Elier Hernandez collected the longest hitting streak in franchise history with a 26-game stretch from May 24 – June 25. Lawson went back to the Express in 2024 for a third season as hitting coach.

Sources include 2010 Rangers Media Guide, 2010 Baseball Almanac

Related Sites

• Missouri State University Bio