Black MiLB Players #15: SS Jordan Lawlar, Arizona Diamondbacks

Jordan Lawlar is a shortstop from the Dallas, Texas area with a tangible chance to be a dynamic up-the-middle piece for the Arizona Diamondbacks as they step into a contention window.

Introduction + Path to Professional Baseball

Jordan Lawlar is a 21-year-old shortstop in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization from Dallas, Texas. By his second year of high school, he had a commitment to Vanderbilt’s Division I baseball program and was getting his performances on the national travel ball circuit highlighted by Baseball America and other reputed publications. He established himself as one of the most fascinating high school prospects in the country by his senior year of high school in 2021, drawing comparisons to Derek Jeter as an oversized, right-handed shortstop with athleticism and baseball acumen well beyond his years.

He was deemed by many pundits to be the best high school position player available in the 2021 MLB Draft. Arizona selected Lawlar with the sixth overall pick of the 2021 MLB Draft out of The Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, Texas. The D-Backs brain trust drew the shortstop away from his strong commitment to the University of Vanderbilt with a $6,713,000 dollar signing bonus.

His professional career started in the Arizona Complex League during the second half of the 2021 MiLB season. He tore his left posterior labrum after playing in just two games and was forced to sit out until 2022. This was Lawlar’s second major injury to his left shoulder, as he partially dislocated it diving for a groundball during his second year of high school.

He played in 100 games across four levels during the 2022 MiLB season, spending time in the Arizona Complex League, Low-A California League, High-A Northwestern League, and the Double-A Texas League. He went .303/.401/.509 with 18 doubles, seven triples, 16 home runs, and 39 stolen bases across 459 total plate appearances.

Only 19 years old, Lawlar carried his excellent performance over to the Arizona Fall League for 11 games with a .278/.469/.528 slash line. His stint in the AFL was abruptly cut short and he was forced to sit out until the 2023 season due to another left shoulder injury on a hit-by-pitch that fractured his scapula but did not require surgery.

Lawlar played in 105 games during the 2023 MiLB season, dominating Double-A and Triple-A to the point where he was called up to the Diamondbacks’ 25-man roster for a 14-game cup of coffee in September and witnessed the team’s run to the 2023 World Series. He went .278/.378/.496 across 490 plate appearances with Arizona’s Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, accumulating 23 doubles, 20 home runs, and 36 stolen bases. He made his MLB debut on September 7th, 2023 versus the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He went one for four with a single, helping the D-Backs get a 6-2 victory.

Player Profile

Jordan Lawlar is 6’2’’ and weighs between 190 - 200 pounds. He has a long and lanky yet athletic frame that has developed muscle with room for more. He is built like the prototypical shortstop who is above six feet tall/weighs more than 180 pounds. Physical comparisons: Carlos Correa, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken, etc.

Hitting

Lawlar bats right-handed, standing in the box with a slightly squatted stance and his hands perpendicular to his head. He gives the bat a very slight waggle as he waits on each pitch, using a slight leg lift before stepping through and swinging. Despite being 6’2’’ with long arms and legs, he has a compact and efficient swing that shows his ability to anticipate is respectable and he possesses the athleticism needed to consistently get his body and the bat into position.

His ability to make contact is around average based on his swinging strike rates in Double-A and Triple-A compared to his peers. His setup and pull-oriented approach make his swing a bit grooved. After watching tape from the 2023 MiLB season it appears he has issues recognizing spin from right-handed pitchers, specifically changeups on the inner half of the plate and below the zone. He seems to struggle with sliders and curveballs down and away as well. I expect his strikeout rate to hover in the low to mid 20s during his MLB career barring some unforeseen development that causes it to drastically shrink or balloon.

He has an above-average eye, posting double-digit walk rates at every full-season level he has participated in. Even while being one of the youngest full-time shortstops in the upper minors he’s shown the ability to consistently make mature swing decisions versus pitchers with big league-level stuff. Lawlar’s pull-oriented approach produces a high amount of hard contact for a shortstop. He shows a tangible feel for hitting the ball in the air and accruing extra-base hits, hitting at least 16 home runs during both of the MiLB seasons in which he played at least 100 games. Despite having a swing that is geared toward pulling the ball, he possesses more than enough strength to go the other way with authority.

Fielding

Lawlar possesses all the required tools to be a reliable defensive shortstop. His footwork and range are slightly above average, displaying an ability to use his speed and long strides to snag balls put in play. He is more than adept at turning two, whether it’s starting, continuing, or finishing the double play. He has a throwing arm with a plus grade at the very least based on strength, accuracy, and the necessary utility required to make all the different throws that the shortstop position demands. His internal clock is sound and he doesn’t seem to panic when making decisions with traffic on the bases. He definitely has the defensive chops to play second or third base if roster construction prevents him from playing shortstop full-time.

Baserunning

Lawlar is a top-of-the-scale athlete who shows top-tier aptitude in his ability to navigate around the bases. He has a very smooth and long stride, even looking like he isn’t trying when at maximum speed despite being one of the fastest prospects in his position group. Stealing 75 bases while only getting caught 11 times in the past two seasons is a reflection of Lawlar’s acumen and selectivity as much as it is a testament to his raw speed and ability to beat throws to the base he is attempting to steal.

Conclusion

Jordan Lawlar is one of many intriguing Black middle infielders climbing their way through the minors currently. Possessing a tantalizing combination of speed, power, and defense, he has one of the most complete games of any individual prospect in his position group. His statistical performance in such a short time span while being extremely young for level is a huge green flag, but it cannot overshadow the red flags such as the platoon splits, the shoulder injuries, and the strikeout rates. His physical tools and sharp skills ensure that he has a high ceiling and a safe floor for a first-round high school shortstop prospect.