Casey Lawrence: New Hampshire Fisher Cats Pitcher

Bob Elliott did a piece for the Toronto Sun on Casey Lawrence where Casey says he can take the home runs, doubles and hard hit balls.

"“The thing that irks me is walking a guy and walking the next guy on four pitches,” said Lawrence, who might be a hard marker. “It’s only happened once, but that wore on me. One walk I can take, but the next guy, too?”(click here to read full article)"

Lawrence went undrafted and was signed by the Jays in 2010 out of Albright College. Since then Casey has never walked more than 1.72 batters per 9 innings when pitching more than 20IP. He isn’t known as a strike out pitcher, although he did lead the Fisher Cats with 93 strike outs in 151.1IP. It’s Lawrence’s ability to limit the free passes that will be his meal ticket.

Casey didn’t do a great job of stranding (66.9%) or limiting the number of hits (9.6 H/9) allowed. Opponents hit .276/.309/.404 against Casey, with a .311 BABIP. Lefties hit .296 and accounted for 7 of his 9 home runs allowed.

Despite an injury that cost his nearly three weeks in June Casey lead the team in wins, losses, GS (T1), CG (T1), SO (T1), IP, H, R (T1), ER, SO, and near perfect games. That’s right Casey almost pitched a perfect game on June 27th, but fell one out shy of accomplishing the feat. He finished with a 7.0IP, H, 8K line.

Heart Break

Casey may have worn down in August, finishing with 1-4, 7.94ERA in his last 5 starts, despite pitching 19 innings in his last 3 starts. This cold streak prevented Lawrence from achieving double digit wins in 2014, which I am sure will eat at him all winter.

What does the future hold?

Casey Lawrence may repeat Double-A New Hampshire, but should be the first starter to get a call up if any vacancies open up in the Herd’s rotation. He is an innings eater and very useful as a back of the rotation guy. He doesn’t have over powering stuff (low 90’s FB) but he commands it well and has a good feel of his secondary pitches, but he will be 27 years old at the start of 2015 and will need to turn some heads in spring training….he at least deserves an invite to Dunedin Florida in March. Ultimately, Casey may be better suited as a long man, who can fill in a start here and there….too bad the Jays already have Chad Jenkins to fill the low strike out, low walk long guy.

But until then,

We will be keeping a close eye on Casey this offseason.He will be suiting up for Manager Henry Blanco‘s Bravos de Margarita of the Venezuela Winter League