READING, Pa. - It’s been a long week to say the least for recent graduate and standout pitcher Casey Lawrence. However, all the waiting was worth it as the McSherrystown native signed his first professional contract with the Toronto Blue Jays early Tuesday morning. With that signing Lawrence became the first player under 12 year head coach Jeff Feiler to ink a professional contract at any level.
“It was exciting,” Lawrence said. “I was waiting around during the draft and was a little disappointed when I didn’t hear anything. I just kept my hopes up and my faith in God that he’d lead me in the right direction and got a phone call today and it made it all worth it,” said Lawrence who was quoted in the Tuesday edition of the Evening Sun in Hanover, Pa.
The righty pitcher, who was clocked at throwing over 90 mph’s this season, will now head to Clearwater, Florida to begin a six-day minicamp. According to Lawrence, he is expected to be assigned to the short season class “A” New York-Penn League in Auburn, N.Y., or the Rookie Gulf Coast League in Dunedin, Florida.
“I think it is a great opportunity for him. Everyone was a little disappointed that he wasn’t drafted last week, but we talked the next day about the fact that this could still happen, that he could get signed as a free agent. I’m just really happy for him that now he has the chance to chase a dream.” said Feiler, who along with assistant coach Gary Yeager, Jr. guided Lawrence throughout his collegiate career.
Professional scout Bobby Gandolfo called Lawrence early Monday morning to offer him the contract. The first time Gandolfo saw Lawrence in action was in April, when Lawrence led Albright to a 7-1 victory. In that contest, Lawrence fanned eight batters, while only walking one in seven innings of work.
“I think he has ‘pitchability.’ He’s got a good feel for his secondary stuff and his fastball. That’s enough,” Gandolfo told the Evening Sun’s Travis Johnson. “I think he’s got pitches he can locate, especially in the zone. He’s going to be able to get some hitters out. The player development, that side’s going to handle the mechanical stuff, but overall, I think he’s pretty clean. He’s got pretty clean mechanics and, in the end, once you get to that next level, it’s production that takes you as far as you can go.”
As a four-year starter for the Lions bullpen, Lawrence had a sensational career in Reading. The all-time career strikeout leader with 251 K’s, Lawrence led Albright to the Commonwealth Conference tournament in 2009 and 2008. In that same season, the righty led the nation in total walks allowed in a nine inning game with a mere five in 76 2/3 innings pitched.
In his senior season, Lawrence closed out the year with only 10 walks allowed which ranked him in the top-20 in Division III. Through 64 1/3 innings, Lawrence retired 70 batters, while only giving up 26 earned runs. His 3.64 ERA led the Lions’ bullpen, and his five complete games marked a career high.
Leading up to his contract signing with the Blue Jays, Lawrence like so many other college and high school players listened closely to last week’s MLB First-Year Players Draft. Expecting to go in the later rounds of the draft, Lawrence waited patiently for his name to be called, which it never was.
Not knowing what was next for the righty, Lawrence returned home from his vacation in Florida, but before he could unpack his bags, Lawrence received one the most important phone calls of his young career.
With the ink still drying on his contract, Lawrence’s future looks bright as he begins his life long dream of playing professional baseball.