Justin Lawrence

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #29 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: The Rockies drafted Lawrence in the 12th round in 2015 and he evolved into one of the club’s most intriguing bullpen prospects. After a couple unimpressive seasons to start his career, Lawrence burst onto the radar with dominant seasons in the South Atlantic League in 2017 and the California League in 2018. He rode a wave of momentum into 2019 spring training as a non-roster invitee, but then sputtered to a 8.76 ERA across 38 games in the high minors. Then, Lawrence was suspended 80 games for the performance-enhancing substance DHCMT. He rebounded in 2021 with his Rockies debut, but struggled against big-league hitters with a 8.64 ERA in 19 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Lawrence has a high-90s fastball with sink and he can routinely touch triple digits. His funky arm angle – which is somewhere between three-quarters and sidearm – creates deception throughout an at-bat. He has an aggressive demeanor on the mound and attacks hitters with his heater. The sharpness of his low-80s slider is improving. His command needs to get better, too, as evidenced by his 22% walk rate in the bigs in 2021.
  
  The Future: Command and the consistency of his secondary pitches are what’s keeping Lawrence from sticking in the Rockies’ bullpen, where he will have plenty of chances again in 2022.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #15 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: After adopting a lower arm slot his freshman year at Jacksonville, Lawrence transferred to Daytona State JC and refined his delivery. He has worked periodically with former Rockies submariner Steve Reed in refining his delivery. Lawrence suffered a setback in 2017 with a torn latissimus dorsi and teres minor, which sidelined him in late May for the remainder of the season, but he bounced back in 2018, earning selection to the high Class A California League all-star game.
  
  Scouting Report: Lawrence is the exception to the rule for a sidearmer. He has the typical sinking action on his pitches but did not suffer a loss in velocity. His fastball ranges from 97-101 mph. In fact, threw more 100 mph pitches (seven) than any pitcher in the Arizona Fall League. Lawrence also commands a slider. He's particularly tough on righthanded hitters, who can't help but feel that Lawrence's fastball is headed for their rib cage. He stays on the outer third of the plate versus lefthanded hitters, rarely coming inside.
  
  The Future: Lawrence is at worst a matchup righthanded reliever. As his confidence grows and he becomes more aggressive against opposite-hand hitters, he has closer potential considering the combination of velocity and movement.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The Rockies drafted Lawrence in the 12th round in 2015 and he evolved into one of the club’s most intriguing bullpen prospects. After a couple unimpressive seasons to start his career, Lawrence burst onto the radar with dominant seasons in the South Atlantic League in 2017 and the California League in 2018. He rode a wave of momentum into 2019 spring training as a non-roster invitee, but then sputtered to a 8.76 ERA across 38 games in the high minors. Then, Lawrence was suspended 80 games for the performance-enhancing substance DHCMT. He rebounded in 2021 with his Rockies debut, but struggled against big-league hitters with a 8.64 ERA in 19 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Lawrence has a high-90s fastball with sink and he can routinely touch triple digits. His funky arm angle – which is somewhere between three-quarters and sidearm – creates deception throughout an at-bat. He has an aggressive demeanor on the mound and attacks hitters with his heater. The sharpness of his low-80s slider is improving. His command needs to get better, too, as evidenced by his 22% walk rate in the bigs in 2021.
  
  The Future: Command and the consistency of his secondary pitches are what’s keeping Lawrence from sticking in the Rockies’ bullpen, where he will have plenty of chances again in 2022.