Toronto's Eric Lauer is breaking out and fitting in with Blue Jays rotation
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Toronto Blue Jays' lefty Eric Lauer has fit in with the veteran rotation, and pitched better than anyone could've expected. The 30-year old has come along way since last year.
In 2024 Toronto Blue Jays lefty was stuck. After opting out of his deal with the Pirates earlier in the year, he'd signed with the Astros, but he was staring at another Triple-A logjam and his 5.26 ERA wasn't helping things. That's when Korea called.
The Kia Tigers had been interested in Lauer throughout the summer, but as his August 1 opt-out with the Astros approached, the organization brought that to him again.
Kia wanted to sign Lauer before that date, which would make him eligible for the KBO playoffs. July kept ticking away, but nothing changed.
Lauer made seven starts in Korea, giving the Tigers a 4.93 ERA with 37 strikeouts over 34 2/3 innings while adjusting to pesky hitters who could foul off pitch after pitch. Suddenly, he was enjoying it.
Looking back now, Korea was beyond anything Lauer could have expected.
When the Blue Jays called, Lauer jumped at the opportunity to be around guys like Max Scherzer, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt and José Berrios. He wanted to learn again.
He wanted to be around Pete Walker, too, the pitching coach who veteran starters love.
Having been on three minor-league deals and one in Korea over the last four years, Lauer is no stranger to assimilating in new clubhouses.
It doesn't always go smoothly. And when friction is presented, it's easy to retreat into a shell and do what you have to do to get yours.
You're a minor-leaguer with a six-five ERA in your last big-league stint. How long are you going to be around anyway?
Lauer admits he was nervous entering the Blue Jays clubhouse this spring, lockering among four other starters with more than 45 combined years of big-league service time.
Were they going to be the typical old, salty vets? Was he going to find out why they call the man Mad Max?
«Obviously, there's a different level of respect for guys of that caliber. But from day one, they've talked to me like I belong, they've talked to me like I'm supposed to be here,» Lauer said. «And it's just a really comforting thing to not have to go in every day and be like, 'Oh, I have nobody to talk to because they're all just veterans older than me that don't want anything to do with me. They're just worried about their career.'
«They want to help young guys. They want to help older guys. They want to help everybody succeed because they want the team to win. And I feel like that's the best culture you can have. Everybody just wants to win collectively.»
There's no denying Lauer's been helping the Blue Jays do just that.
They've now won each of the last five games he's pitched in, and 9 of 12 this season.
Among a crafty, dependable, veteran rotation that's been the bedrock of this team for years, he hasn't stuck out like he thought he might. He's fit right in.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 29 | 254 ANSWERS Toronto's Eric Lauer is breaking out and fitting in with Blue Jays rotation Do you think lefty Eric Lauer will become a mainstay in the Blue Jays rotation? | ||
| Yes | 181 | 71.3 % |
| No | 18 | 7.1 % |
| Too early to tell | 55 | 21.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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