Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | SD | RHP | 9 | 40 |
Grades Update: Mar 2021
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | CH | Cnt/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 40 | 50 | 55 | 40 | 40/30 |
Mar 2021 Report
Evaluator: Geoff Pontes
Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Round 2 CBB
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster
Physical Description: Tall, high waisted, athletic. Room to add 10-15 more pounds as he matures. Near max, high level of conditioning. Long injury history dating back to his amateur days. Missed most of 2019 following an elbow injury. Underwent PRP, but elected for Tommy John Surgery after a second shutdown in March of 2020
Delivery & Mechanics: Semi-windup; short arm action; over the top arm slot; tall and fall delivery; exaggerated leg kick; short strider. Fast arm but lack of lower half drive puts strain on arm and shoulder.
Fastball: 92-94 mph; touches 95-96 mph; with late hop. Ride over run fastball, locates well to the upper quadrants and gloveside. Struggles to locate armside, and will often catch too much of the plate. Due to good shape and average or better velocity the pitch grades as major league average out of the pen. Grade: 50
Curveball: Overhand curveball with 12-6 shape. Low 80s velocity, can manipulate the shape to add depth or slurvy break; messed with a slider in the past. Best swing and miss pitch and his go to secondary. Can struggle to land at the bottom of the zone at times, and batters can lay off of it. That's the exception and not the norm however. Above-average curveball with functional over aesthetic value. Grade: 55
Changeup: Below average changeup with some possible projection remaining. Will show flashes of average but it's infrequently used and will at times flatten out. When he gets around the ball he can create nice run and tumble, but his lack of confidence and recent arm injury are cause for concern with his ability to pronate consistently. Grade: 40
Control and Command: Even prior to TJS Lawson's control and command were below average. He tends to hit zones more than spots. He makes it a habit of wasting pitches in pitchers counts and running his pitch count up. When he begins to miss with his fastball up it can snowball as his curveball isn't of the strike stealing variety. He tends to wear down after a single time through the lineup and his release point and mechanics begin to get sloppy manifesting in walks. Control: 40 | Command: 30
Overall: An big arm talent that's never fully been able to master command of his raw stuff. There's enough pitchability to project a major league role if he can avoid injury for a sustained period of time. With an average fastball that could play hotter in short stints, and an above average bat missing secondary give Lawson a solid foundation for a future in the pen. If Lawson can come back to full strength and throw strikes his 40 man spot may afford him an opportunity in San Diego (or elsewhere) this season. Low leverage relief role type with a little projection remaining.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Low Leverage Reliever
Risk: High
