Matt Lawton
Encyclopedia
Matthew "Matt" Lawton, Jr. (born November 3, 1971 in Gulfport, Mississippi
) is a retired professional baseball
whose career spanned 15 seasons, including 12 seasons in Major League Baseball
. Lawton, an outfielder
, made his major league debut September 5, 1995, with the Minnesota Twins
, who signed him four years prior. He also played in the majors with the New York Mets
(2001), the Cleveland Indians
(2002–04), the Pittsburgh Pirates
(2005), the Chicago Cubs
(2005), the New York Yankees
(2005), and the Seattle Mariners
(2006). Over his major league career, Lawton compiled a .267 batting average
with 1,273 hits
, 267 doubles
, 17 triples
, 138 home run
s, 631 runs batted in (RBIs), 165 stolen base
s, and 681 walks
in 1,334 games played
.
Lawton was drafted by the Minnesota Twins during the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft
out of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
. A season later, he made is professional debut in the minor leagues
with the Gulf Coast League Twins
. He also played in the minors with the Fort Wayne Wizards
(1993), the Fort Myers Miracle
(1994, 1999), the Hardware City Rock Cats (1995), the Salt Lake Buzz (1996), and the Akron Aeros
(2002–03). During his minor league career, Lawton compiled a .282 batting average with 460 hits, 95 doubles, 13 triples, 38 home runs, 206 RBIs, 114 stolen bases, 262 walks and 466 runs.
Lawton has won multiple awards over his career. He was selected to play in the 1994 Florida State League
All-Star Game. He was also selected to play in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game
twice, both times as a member of the American League
team (2000, 2004). During the 2000 season, Lawton was named the Minnesota Twins Player of the Year. Some of Lawton's career has also proved controversial. After the 2005 season, he received a ten games suspension by Major League Baseball after testing positive to performance-enhancing drugs
. Lawton did not appeal the suspension, instead acknowledging his use of the drugs. In a statement to the Associated Press
, he apologized to "all those people that [he] let down".
in Perkinston, Mississippi
. Lawton's coach
in college was Cooper Farris. From Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins
in the 13 round of the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft
. Five of Lawton's teammates from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College were also drafted in 1991. Lawton is one of four attendees of Mississippi Gulf Coast who later played in Major League Baseball
. In 2004, Lawton donated US$10,000 to his alma mater
. The funds were used to build a covered batting cage
and improve the baseball team's field.
on August 12, 1991, after being selected by them in that year's draft. He began his professional baseball
career in 1992 with the Gulf Coast League Twins
of the rookie-league Gulf Coast League
. That season, Lawton batted
.260 with 39 runs scored, 45 hits
, eight doubles
, three triples
, two home run
s, 26 runs batted in (RBIs), 20 stolen base
s, and 27 walks
in 53 games played
. Amongst league batters, Lawton was third in runs scored, and fifth in stolen bases. During the 1993 season, Lawton was assigned to the Fort Wayne Wizards
of the Class-A Midwest League
. With the Wizards, he batted .285 with 50 runs scored, 97 hits, 21 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 38 RBIs, 23 stolen bases, and 65 walks in 111 games played. He was tied for tenth in the league in caught stealing
(15). In 1994, Lawton was assigned to play with the Class-A Advanced Fort Myers Miracle
. He was named to the 1994 Florida State League
All-Star Team. On the season, Lawton batted .300 with 79 runs scored, 134 hits, 30 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 51 RBIs, 42 stolen bases, and 80 walks in 122 games played. He was tied for second in the league caught stealing (19), and walks; fourth in stolen bases; eighth in runs scored; and ninth in doubles.
Lawton began the 1995 season in the minor leagues
with the Hardware City Rock Cats of the Double-A Eastern League. With the Rock Cats, he batted .269 with 75 runs, 111 hits, 19 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs, 54 RBIs, 26 stolen bases, and 56 walks in 114 game played. The Minnesota Twins called Lawton up in September of that year. He made his debut in Major League Baseball
on September 5, against the Detroit Tigers
. In that game, Lawton struck out
in one at-bat. Lawton got his first hit of his major league career on September 6, against the Tigers. On September 28, against the Cleveland Indians
, Lawton hit his first career major league home run. In the majors that year, Lawton batted .317 with 11 runs scored, 19 hits, four doubles, one triple, one home run, and 12 RBIs in 21 games played. On defense with the Twins, Lawton played 12 games in center field, eight games in right field, and one game in left field. After the 1995 season, Lawton played in the Arizona Fall League
.
Before the 1996 season, Baseball Digest
described Lawton as "very versatile" and stated that he had good arm speed and a "very live bat". He started the season with the Twins, but was sent to the minor leagues in early May. In the minors, Lawton played with the Triple-A Salt Lake Buzz. On May 20, Lawton returned to Salt Lake City after attending the funeral of his aunt. In the minors, he batted .297 with 40 runs, 63 hits, 16 doubles, on triple, seven home runs, and 33 RBIs in 53 games played. Later in the season, Lawton returned to the majors with the Twins. In the majors, he batted .258 with 34 runs, 65 hits, seven doubles, one triple, six home runs, 42 RBIs, and 28 walks in 78 games played. On defense, Lawton played 60 games in right field, 18 game in center field, and one game in left field.
In spring training during the 1997 season, Lawton was competing for the fourth outfielder spot on the Twins roster. Lawton made the Twins roster out of spring training. On June 14, while the Twins were playing the Houston Astros
at the Astrodome, Lawton left 38 tickets for his family, who were from Gulfport, Mississippi
. In his first full season in the majors, Lawton batted .248 with 74 runs scored, 114 hits, 29 doubles, three triples, 14 home runs, 60 RBIs, and seven stolen bases in 142 games played. In the field, Lawton played 67 games in right field, 58 in left field, and 23 in center field. He committed a combined seven errors; and made nine assists, and 278 putouts.
Lawton struggled early during the 1998 season, but started playing better through the mid-season. On May 9, Lawton hit a grand slam
against the New York Yankees
, which led the Twins to a 8–1 victory. Late into the season season, Twins manager
Tom Kelly
commented that Lawton had improved well over the season, but still had more work to do before he would become a "winning player". On September 1, Lawton hit a game-winning triple against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the bottom of the tenth inning
. At seasons end, Lawton compiled a .278 batting average with 91 runs scored, 155 hits, 36 doubles, six triples, 21 home runs, 77 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases in 152 games played. On defense, he played 100 games in right field, 47 in center field, and 12 in left field. He committed four errors; and made 12 assists, and 389 putouts as an outfielder. Amongst American League
hitters that year, Lawton was tied for fourth in times hit by pitch
(15); ninth in walks (86), tenth in on base percentage
(.387), and tied for tenth in triples.
Before the 1999 season, Lawton in the Twins failed to agree on a contract. This led to arbitration
proceedings, with Lawton requesting US$2.4 million. The Twins countered with a US$1.7 million contract, which Lawton refused. On April 18, 1999, Lawton hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 11 inning to give the Twins the victory over the Cleveland Indians
. Todd Walker
, the Twins infielder
at the time, was Lawton's good friend since they met in the minors. On June 8, Lawton shattered his eye socket in two places after being hit by a pitch from Cincinnati Reds
pitcher Dennys Reyes
. Lawton played five rehab games in the minor leagues with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Twins, and the Class-A Advanced Fort Myers Miracle, batting a combined .500. Lawton made his return to the majors on July 18. He wore a protective cage on his batting helmet
until July 21, shedding it because it limited his vision. During a game at the SkyDome against the Toronto Blue Jays
, Lawton spat
towards a 16-year-old fan who called him a racial slur. The two later exchanged apologies. Lawton potentially faced assault
charges, but nothing was ever filed. On the season, Lawton batted .259 with 58 runs scored, 105 hits, 18 doubles, seven home runs, 54 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases in 118 games played. In the field, he played 103 games in right field, 10 in left field, and six in center field. In all of his outfield games, Lawton committed four errors; and made three assists and 231 putouts.
During spring training in 2000, Lawton stated that his eye socket was fully healed after the injury he suffered in 1999. On April 9, 2000, Lawton failed to catch a ball hit by Carlos Beltrán
in the seventh inning that would have kept Twins pitcher Eric Milton's
perfect game
bid alive. In July, Lawton played on the American League team during the 2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
. In the game, Lawton appeared in two at-bats, getting one hit and driving in a run. At seasons end, Lawton compiled a .305 batting average with 84 runs scored, 171 hits, 44 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 88 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases in 156 games played. He played 83 games in right field, 67 in left field, and three in center field. Defensively, Lawton committed five errors; and made four assists, and 278 putouts. Amongst American League batters, Lawton was tied for fifth in doubles. After the season, he was named the Twins Player of the Year.
In February 2001, Twins general manager
Terry Ryan
stated that he did not plan on trading Lawton, contrary to other reports. Furthermore, Twins manager Tom Kelley stated that he did not expect Lawton would be traded under any circumstances. It was noted in spring training in 2001 that Lawton had gained 14 pounds (6.4 kg). Lawton was taken out of the Twins starting lineup in May, due to lack of production. As a member of the Twins that year, he batted .293 with 71 runs scored, 110 hits, 25 doubles, 10 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases in 103 games played.
in exchange for Rick Reed
. During his time with the Mets, Lawton split time with outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo
, Joe McEwing
, Benny Agbayani
, and Jay Payton
. In his Mets debut on July 13, against the Houston Astros
, Lawton got one hit in four at-bats. His first home run as a Mets player come on August 5, against the Arizona Diamondbacks
. Lawton sometimes batted in the third position in the Mets' batting order
. With New York that season, he batted .246 with 24 runs scored, 45 hits, 11 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 13 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases in 48 games played. Combined between the Twins and Mets that season, Lawton batted .277 with 95 runs scored, 155 hits, 36 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 64 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases in 151 games played. In his combined defensive stats as an outfielder, Lawton committed four errors; and made three assists, and 289 putouts.
Lawton was traded from the New York Mets to the Cleveland Indians during the winter of 2001. In the deal, the Mets sent Lawton, a players to be named later
, Alex Escobar
, and Jerrod Riggan
to the Indians in exchange for Danny Peoples, Roberto Alomar
, Mike Bacsik
. The players to be named was Earl Snyder
and Billy Traber
, who were sent to the Indians two days later. On April 18, 2002, in a game against the Minnesota Twins, Lawton separated his right shoulder after diving for the ball in right field, but played through the injury. On May 18, Lawton hit a two-out
, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Indians a walk-off win against the Baltimore Orioles
. On September 19, Lawton was placed on the disabled list
, and was later forced to sit out the rest of the season after feeling pain in his labrum
, which was torn earlier in the season. He played three rehab games in the minors that season with the Double-A Akron Aeros
, getting no hits in 10 at-bats. There were rumors that Lawton may not be ready for the start of the 2003 season. On the season with the Indians, Lawton batted .236 with 71 runs scored 98 hits, 19 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs, 57 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in 114 games played. He played 85 games in right field, and 23 in left field. As an outfielder, he committed six errors, and made six assists and 229 putouts. He underwent arthroscopic surgery after the season to repair a tear in his labrum and fraying in the rotator cuff
. Doctors also removed a cyst
from his acromioclavicular joint
.
Lawton spent the entire 2002–03 winter rehabbing. Before the 2003 season, Indians' manager Eric Wedge
stated that he had questions about Lawton's health. However, team officials also stated that Lawton was completely healthy. At the start of the 2003 season, Lawton's teammate Milton Bradley commented that people would confuse him for Lawton. Bradley joked, "I mean, give me Matt Lawton's paycheck...I'll be Matt." During both the 2002 and 2003 seasons, Lawton purchased tickets for a Boys & Girls Clubs of America group called “Lawton Little Leaguers”. On July 11, 2003, Lawton was placed on the disabled list after jamming
his middle finger
. He rehabbed in the minor leagues, batting .053 in five games with the Double-A Akron Aeros. Lawton was activated from the disabled list on August 18. To make room for Lawton after his activation, the Indians optioned infielder Zach Sorensen
to the minor leagues. On September 9, Lawton was again placed on the disabled list due to issues with his middle finger. Lawton also underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus
, marking the second time in as many years that he finished his season with surgery. The procedure was performed by Indians' team doctor Mark Schickendantz. With the Indians in 2003, Lawton batted .249 with 57 runs scored, 93 hits, 19 doubles, 15 home runs, 53 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases in 99 games played.
On April 6, 2004, Lawton filed a report with the Philadelphia Police Department
regarding a jewelry theft in his hotel room. Lawton, who was in Philadelphia with the Indians, reported that the jewelry in question was worth US$117,000. On April 18, Lawton hit two home runs in a game against the Detroit Tigers. Lawton was selected to play in the 2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
that season. In that game, he got one hit in two at-bats. On August 9, Lawton hit a game-winning home run against the Chicago White Sox
. On the season, Lawton batted .277 with 109 runs scored, 164 hits, 25 doubles, 20 home runs, 70 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases in 150 games played. As a fielder, he played 124 games in right field, and 19 in left field. On defense, Lawton committed four errors; and made nine assists and 266 putouts. Amongst American League batters, Lawton was tied for fifth in double plays grounded into (21), tied for sixth in stolen bases, and was tied for tenth in caught stealing (9).
on December 11, 2004. The Indians received pitcher Arthur Rhodes
in the trade. Both teams received cash considerations from each other. Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield
commented on the acquisition by saying "Lawton, we think, is a good fit. With this move we've been able to help our offense". Lawton was slated to be the team's leadoff hitter
after the departure of the man who hit in that position during the 2004 season, Jason Kendall
. On July 14, 2005, Lawton acknowledged he was hearing rumors that the Pirates were considering trading him before the July 31 no-waiver trade deadline. As a member of the Pirates that season, Lawton batted .273 with 53 runs scored, 102 hits, 28 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 44 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases in 101 games played.
in exchange for outfielder Jody Gerut
. The Cubs acquired Lawton to be their leadoff hitter. Todd Walker, the Cubs second baseman
at the time, was happy that his team traded for Lawton, who had been his friend since playing in the minor leagues together. Lawton said this about the trade:
Lawton batted leadoff in his debut with the Cubs, which was against the Philadelphia Phillies
on August 2. In that debut, Lawton got two hits in five at-bats. He hit his first and only home with the Cubs on August 14, against the St. Louis Cardinals
. With Chicago that season, Lawton batted .244 with eight runs scored, 19 hits, two doubles, one home run, and five RBIs in 19 games played. Authors of Cubs by the Numbers, Al Yellon, Kasey Ignarski, and Matthew Silverman
later commented that Lawton's tenure with the Cubs was "useless".
, who was a member of the New York's minor league system since 2003. Yankees manager Joe Torre
commented that adding Lawton to the roster gave the team more depth and described him as a "talented player". Lawton got his first hit as a member of the Yankees in his debut with the team on August 27, against the Kansas City Royals
. His first Yankees home run came against the Seattle Mariners
on August 29. It was noted by MLB.com that Lawton struggled as a member of the Yankees. In 21 games with the Yankees, Lawton batted .125 with six runs runs scored, six hits, two home runs, and four RBIs. Combined between the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Chicago Cubs, and the Yankees that season, he batted .254 with 67 runs scored, 127 hits, 30 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 53 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases 141 games played. At the end of the season, Lawton ranked tenth in the National League
in caught stealing (9). Amongst fielders, he was second in fielding percentage
(.995) as a right fielder.
. Lawton made the following statement to the Associated Press
following his suspension:
in 2006, the Mariners allowed Lawton and teammate Eddie Guardado
leave camp to attended the funeral services for their former teammate Kirby Puckett
. Lawton returned from his suspension on April 12. After activating him on the roster, the Mariners designated catcher
Guillermo Quiróz
for assignment. Lawton gave Mariners officials the permission required to release him, saying that "I went to them in a friendly manner and just said 'Hey, I'll be the guy you can send out' if they felt the need". Lawton was designated for assignment on May 20. Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi
added Mike Morse
to the major league roster in Lawton's place. With the Mariners that season, Lawton batted .259 with five runs scored, seven hits, and one RBI in 11 games played.
. Lawton has a wife, Cazesta. Lawton has a daughter, Chassity, born July 3, 1993. He also has a son, Chaseton, born October 3, 2000. Lawton's brother, Marcus Lawton
, was also a professional baseball player. During his brother's playing career in the New York Mets organization, Matt Lawton was the team's batboy
. He also has a younger brother, O. J.
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson. It is the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. As of the...
) is a retired professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
whose career spanned 15 seasons, including 12 seasons in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Lawton, an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, made his major league debut September 5, 1995, with the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, who signed him four years prior. He also played in the majors with the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
(2001), the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(2002–04), the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(2005), the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(2005), the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(2005), and the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
(2006). Over his major league career, Lawton compiled a .267 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with 1,273 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 267 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 17 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 138 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 631 runs batted in (RBIs), 165 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, and 681 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
in 1,334 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
.
Lawton was drafted by the Minnesota Twins during the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft
1991 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1991 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Other notable players:...
out of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College consists of four campuses and four centers: the main campus, located in Perkinston, Mississippi; the Jackson County Campus, in Gautier; the Jefferson Davis Campus, in Gulfport; the Community Campus, a non-traditional campus without walls; the George County...
. A season later, he made is professional debut in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
with the Gulf Coast League Twins
Gulf Coast League Twins
The Gulf Coast League Twins are the Rookie "A" Level Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The team plays in Fort Myers, Florida, at the Lee County Sports Complex....
. He also played in the minors with the Fort Wayne Wizards
Fort Wayne Wizards
The Fort Wayne TinCaps are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the San Diego Padres, that plays in the Midwest League. They won their first Midwest League Championship in 2009.-History:...
(1993), the Fort Myers Miracle
Fort Myers Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle is the Class A Advanced minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club, currently managed by Jake Mauer. Home games are played at the Lee County Sports Complex in Hammond Stadium, which has a capacity of 7,500, and opened in...
(1994, 1999), the Hardware City Rock Cats (1995), the Salt Lake Buzz (1996), and the Akron Aeros
Akron Aeros
The Akron Aeros are a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, USA. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.The Aeros play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 9,097 fans...
(2002–03). During his minor league career, Lawton compiled a .282 batting average with 460 hits, 95 doubles, 13 triples, 38 home runs, 206 RBIs, 114 stolen bases, 262 walks and 466 runs.
Lawton has won multiple awards over his career. He was selected to play in the 1994 Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
All-Star Game. He was also selected to play in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
twice, both times as a member of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
team (2000, 2004). During the 2000 season, Lawton was named the Minnesota Twins Player of the Year. Some of Lawton's career has also proved controversial. After the 2005 season, he received a ten games suspension by Major League Baseball after testing positive to performance-enhancing drugs
Performance-enhancing drugs
Performance-enhancing drugs are substances used by athletes to improve their performances in the sports in which they engage.- Types of performance-enhancing drugs :...
. Lawton did not appeal the suspension, instead acknowledging his use of the drugs. In a statement to the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, he apologized to "all those people that [he] let down".
Amateur career
Lawton attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community CollegeMississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College consists of four campuses and four centers: the main campus, located in Perkinston, Mississippi; the Jackson County Campus, in Gautier; the Jefferson Davis Campus, in Gulfport; the Community Campus, a non-traditional campus without walls; the George County...
in Perkinston, Mississippi
Perkinston, Mississippi
Perkinston is an unincorporated community in central Stone County, Mississippi, United States. It is situated along U.S. Highway 49, approximately five miles south of Wiggins. The community is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Education:The main campus of...
. Lawton's coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
in college was Cooper Farris. From Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in the 13 round of the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft
1991 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1991 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Other notable players:...
. Five of Lawton's teammates from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College were also drafted in 1991. Lawton is one of four attendees of Mississippi Gulf Coast who later played in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. In 2004, Lawton donated US$10,000 to his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
. The funds were used to build a covered batting cage
Batting cage
A batting cage is an enclosed cage for baseball players to practice the skill of batting.It is usually made of netting or a chain-link fence and rectangular in shape. A batter stands at one end of the cage, with a pitching machine at the opposing end...
and improve the baseball team's field.
Minnesota Twins (1992–2001)
Lawton signed with the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
on August 12, 1991, after being selected by them in that year's draft. He began his professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
career in 1992 with the Gulf Coast League Twins
Gulf Coast League Twins
The Gulf Coast League Twins are the Rookie "A" Level Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The team plays in Fort Myers, Florida, at the Lee County Sports Complex....
of the rookie-league Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
. That season, Lawton batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.260 with 39 runs scored, 45 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, eight doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, three triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, two home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 26 runs batted in (RBIs), 20 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, and 27 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
in 53 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
. Amongst league batters, Lawton was third in runs scored, and fifth in stolen bases. During the 1993 season, Lawton was assigned to the Fort Wayne Wizards
Fort Wayne Wizards
The Fort Wayne TinCaps are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the San Diego Padres, that plays in the Midwest League. They won their first Midwest League Championship in 2009.-History:...
of the Class-A Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
. With the Wizards, he batted .285 with 50 runs scored, 97 hits, 21 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 38 RBIs, 23 stolen bases, and 65 walks in 111 games played. He was tied for tenth in the league in caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
(15). In 1994, Lawton was assigned to play with the Class-A Advanced Fort Myers Miracle
Fort Myers Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle is the Class A Advanced minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club, currently managed by Jake Mauer. Home games are played at the Lee County Sports Complex in Hammond Stadium, which has a capacity of 7,500, and opened in...
. He was named to the 1994 Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
All-Star Team. On the season, Lawton batted .300 with 79 runs scored, 134 hits, 30 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 51 RBIs, 42 stolen bases, and 80 walks in 122 games played. He was tied for second in the league caught stealing (19), and walks; fourth in stolen bases; eighth in runs scored; and ninth in doubles.
Lawton began the 1995 season in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
with the Hardware City Rock Cats of the Double-A Eastern League. With the Rock Cats, he batted .269 with 75 runs, 111 hits, 19 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs, 54 RBIs, 26 stolen bases, and 56 walks in 114 game played. The Minnesota Twins called Lawton up in September of that year. He made his debut in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
on September 5, against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. In that game, Lawton struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
in one at-bat. Lawton got his first hit of his major league career on September 6, against the Tigers. On September 28, against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Lawton hit his first career major league home run. In the majors that year, Lawton batted .317 with 11 runs scored, 19 hits, four doubles, one triple, one home run, and 12 RBIs in 21 games played. On defense with the Twins, Lawton played 12 games in center field, eight games in right field, and one game in left field. After the 1995 season, Lawton played in the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
.
Before the 1996 season, Baseball Digest
Baseball Digest
Baseball Digest is a baseball magazine resource, published in Evanston, Illinois by Lakeside Publishing Company. It is the oldest and longest-running baseball magazine in the United States....
described Lawton as "very versatile" and stated that he had good arm speed and a "very live bat". He started the season with the Twins, but was sent to the minor leagues in early May. In the minors, Lawton played with the Triple-A Salt Lake Buzz. On May 20, Lawton returned to Salt Lake City after attending the funeral of his aunt. In the minors, he batted .297 with 40 runs, 63 hits, 16 doubles, on triple, seven home runs, and 33 RBIs in 53 games played. Later in the season, Lawton returned to the majors with the Twins. In the majors, he batted .258 with 34 runs, 65 hits, seven doubles, one triple, six home runs, 42 RBIs, and 28 walks in 78 games played. On defense, Lawton played 60 games in right field, 18 game in center field, and one game in left field.
In spring training during the 1997 season, Lawton was competing for the fourth outfielder spot on the Twins roster. Lawton made the Twins roster out of spring training. On June 14, while the Twins were playing the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
at the Astrodome, Lawton left 38 tickets for his family, who were from Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson. It is the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. As of the...
. In his first full season in the majors, Lawton batted .248 with 74 runs scored, 114 hits, 29 doubles, three triples, 14 home runs, 60 RBIs, and seven stolen bases in 142 games played. In the field, Lawton played 67 games in right field, 58 in left field, and 23 in center field. He committed a combined seven errors; and made nine assists, and 278 putouts.
Lawton struggled early during the 1998 season, but started playing better through the mid-season. On May 9, Lawton hit a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, which led the Twins to a 8–1 victory. Late into the season season, Twins manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Tom Kelly
Tom Kelly (baseball)
Jay Thomas Kelly , is the former manager of the Minnesota Twins baseball team from to . Currently, he serves as a Special Assistant to the General Manager for the Twins....
commented that Lawton had improved well over the season, but still had more work to do before he would become a "winning player". On September 1, Lawton hit a game-winning triple against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the bottom of the tenth inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
. At seasons end, Lawton compiled a .278 batting average with 91 runs scored, 155 hits, 36 doubles, six triples, 21 home runs, 77 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases in 152 games played. On defense, he played 100 games in right field, 47 in center field, and 12 in left field. He committed four errors; and made 12 assists, and 389 putouts as an outfielder. Amongst American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
hitters that year, Lawton was tied for fourth in times hit by pitch
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
(15); ninth in walks (86), tenth in on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
(.387), and tied for tenth in triples.
Before the 1999 season, Lawton in the Twins failed to agree on a contract. This led to arbitration
Arbitration
Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution , is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons , by whose decision they agree to be bound...
proceedings, with Lawton requesting US$2.4 million. The Twins countered with a US$1.7 million contract, which Lawton refused. On April 18, 1999, Lawton hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 11 inning to give the Twins the victory over the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. Todd Walker
Todd Walker
Todd Arthur Walker is a former Major League Baseball infielder.-College:Walker attended LSU where he led the Tigers to the 1993 national championship. He also earned the 1993 College World Series Most Outstanding Player award. In 2006, Walker was elected to the LSU Hall of Fame...
, the Twins infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
at the time, was Lawton's good friend since they met in the minors. On June 8, Lawton shattered his eye socket in two places after being hit by a pitch from Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
pitcher Dennys Reyes
Dennys Reyes
Dennys Reyes is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He has played for ten teams since his major league career began in . Reyes throws left-handed and is considered a lefty specialist. He stands 6'3" and weighs 250 pounds. His nickname is "The Big Sweat."...
. Lawton played five rehab games in the minor leagues with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Twins, and the Class-A Advanced Fort Myers Miracle, batting a combined .500. Lawton made his return to the majors on July 18. He wore a protective cage on his batting helmet
Batting helmet
A batting helmet is the protective headgear worn by batters in the game of baseball or softball. It is meant to protect the batter's head from errant pitches thrown by the pitcher...
until July 21, shedding it because it limited his vision. During a game at the SkyDome against the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, Lawton spat
Spitting
Spitting or expectoration is the act of forcibly ejecting saliva or other substances from the mouth. It is currently considered rude and a social taboo in many parts of the world including the West, while in some other parts of the world it is considered more acceptable...
towards a 16-year-old fan who called him a racial slur. The two later exchanged apologies. Lawton potentially faced assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
charges, but nothing was ever filed. On the season, Lawton batted .259 with 58 runs scored, 105 hits, 18 doubles, seven home runs, 54 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases in 118 games played. In the field, he played 103 games in right field, 10 in left field, and six in center field. In all of his outfield games, Lawton committed four errors; and made three assists and 231 putouts.
During spring training in 2000, Lawton stated that his eye socket was fully healed after the injury he suffered in 1999. On April 9, 2000, Lawton failed to catch a ball hit by Carlos Beltrán
Carlos Beltrán
Carlos Iván Beltrán is a Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early life:In his youth, Beltrán excelled in many sports, with volleyball and baseball being his favorites. At his father's urging, he gave up volleyball to concentrate on baseball when he was seventeen...
in the seventh inning that would have kept Twins pitcher Eric Milton's
Eric Milton
Eric Robert Milton is a former American left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball...
perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
bid alive. In July, Lawton played on the American League team during the 2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 71st playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
. In the game, Lawton appeared in two at-bats, getting one hit and driving in a run. At seasons end, Lawton compiled a .305 batting average with 84 runs scored, 171 hits, 44 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 88 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases in 156 games played. He played 83 games in right field, 67 in left field, and three in center field. Defensively, Lawton committed five errors; and made four assists, and 278 putouts. Amongst American League batters, Lawton was tied for fifth in doubles. After the season, he was named the Twins Player of the Year.
In February 2001, Twins general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Terry Ryan
Terry Ryan (baseball)
Terry Ryan is the general manager for the Minnesota Twins. Ryan is known for using a low payroll and building up the minor league system to put up contending teams. He resigned as general manager of the Twins on October 1, 2007 but returned to the team as interim GM on November 7, 2011.-Early...
stated that he did not plan on trading Lawton, contrary to other reports. Furthermore, Twins manager Tom Kelley stated that he did not expect Lawton would be traded under any circumstances. It was noted in spring training in 2001 that Lawton had gained 14 pounds (6.4 kg). Lawton was taken out of the Twins starting lineup in May, due to lack of production. As a member of the Twins that year, he batted .293 with 71 runs scored, 110 hits, 25 doubles, 10 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases in 103 games played.
New York Mets (2001)
On July 31, 2001 the Minnesota Twins traded Lawton to the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in exchange for Rick Reed
Rick Reed (pitcher)
Richard Allen Reed is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Kansas City Royals , Texas Rangers , Cincinnati Reds , New York Mets and Minnesota Twins...
. During his time with the Mets, Lawton split time with outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo
Tsuyoshi Shinjo
is a former Japanese professional baseball outfielder.-Career:Born in Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan and raised in Minami-ku, Fukuoka, he played for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan from until , then for Major League Baseball's New York Mets and San Francisco Giants...
, Joe McEwing
Joe McEwing
Joseph Earl McEwing is a former Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career with the New York Mets, where he played from through . Nicknamed "Super Joe", he was the prototypical utility player who could play any position on the field well...
, Benny Agbayani
Benny Agbayani
Benny Peter Agbayani, Jr. is retired professional baseball player. Born in Hawaii to Filipino and Samoan parents, he attended Saint Louis School and Hawaii Pacific University. He also attended the Oregon Institute of Technology...
, and Jay Payton
Jay Payton
Jason Lee "Jay" Payton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He has played for the New York Mets , Colorado Rockies , San Diego Padres , Boston Red Sox , Oakland Athletics Baltimore Orioles and the Colorado Rockies in 2010. He bats and throws right-handed. Payton is an opposite-field...
. In his Mets debut on July 13, against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, Lawton got one hit in four at-bats. His first home run as a Mets player come on August 5, against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. Lawton sometimes batted in the third position in the Mets' batting order
Batting order (baseball)
The batting order, or batting lineup, in baseball is the sequence in which the nine members of the offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main component of a team's offensive strategy. The batting order is set by the manager before the game begins...
. With New York that season, he batted .246 with 24 runs scored, 45 hits, 11 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 13 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases in 48 games played. Combined between the Twins and Mets that season, Lawton batted .277 with 95 runs scored, 155 hits, 36 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 64 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases in 151 games played. In his combined defensive stats as an outfielder, Lawton committed four errors; and made three assists, and 289 putouts.
Cleveland Indians (2002–04)
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
, Alex Escobar
Alex Escobar
Alexander José Escobar [ess-COE-bar] is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Colorado Rockies organization....
, and Jerrod Riggan
Jerrod Riggan
Jerrod Ashley Riggan is an American former Major League Baseball player. A pitcher, Riggan played for the New York Mets and Cleveland Indians . He also played in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers in 2003 and 2004.-External links:...
to the Indians in exchange for Danny Peoples, Roberto Alomar
Roberto Alomar
Roberto "Robbie" Alomar Velázquez is a former Major League Baseball player , regarded by many as one of the best second basemen in MLB history. During his career he won more Gold Gloves than any other second baseman in history, and also won the second-most Silver Slugger Awards for a second...
, Mike Bacsik
Mike Bacsik (left-handed pitcher)
-External links:**...
. The players to be named was Earl Snyder
Earl Snyder
Earl Clifford Snyder is a former Major League Baseball player who played in the major leagues for the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox...
and Billy Traber
Billy Traber
William Henry "Billy" Traber, Jr. is a left-handed pitcher who is currently a free agent.-College:...
, who were sent to the Indians two days later. On April 18, 2002, in a game against the Minnesota Twins, Lawton separated his right shoulder after diving for the ball in right field, but played through the injury. On May 18, Lawton hit a two-out
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Indians a walk-off win against the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. On September 19, Lawton was placed on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
, and was later forced to sit out the rest of the season after feeling pain in his labrum
Acetabular labrum
The acetabular labrum is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the acetabulum ....
, which was torn earlier in the season. He played three rehab games in the minors that season with the Double-A Akron Aeros
Akron Aeros
The Akron Aeros are a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, USA. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.The Aeros play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 9,097 fans...
, getting no hits in 10 at-bats. There were rumors that Lawton may not be ready for the start of the 2003 season. On the season with the Indians, Lawton batted .236 with 71 runs scored 98 hits, 19 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs, 57 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in 114 games played. He played 85 games in right field, and 23 in left field. As an outfielder, he committed six errors, and made six assists and 229 putouts. He underwent arthroscopic surgery after the season to repair a tear in his labrum and fraying in the rotator cuff
Rotator cuff
In anatomy, the rotator cuff is the group of muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the shoulder. The four muscles of the rotator cuff, along with the teres major muscle, the coracobrachialis muscle and the deltoid, make up the seven scapulohumeral muscles of the human body.-Function:The...
. Doctors also removed a cyst
Cyst
A cyst is a closed sac, having a distinct membrane and division on the nearby tissue. It may contain air, fluids, or semi-solid material. A collection of pus is called an abscess, not a cyst. Once formed, a cyst could go away on its own or may have to be removed through surgery.- Locations :* Acne...
from his acromioclavicular joint
Acromioclavicular joint
The acromioclavicular joint, or AC joint, is a joint at the top of the shoulder. It is the junction between the acromion and the clavicle. -Function:...
.
Lawton spent the entire 2002–03 winter rehabbing. Before the 2003 season, Indians' manager Eric Wedge
Eric Wedge
Eric Michael Wedge is a Major League Baseball manager and former catcher, and is the current manager of the Seattle Mariners. As a player, Wedge attended Northrop High School in Fort Wayne and played on the school's state champion baseball team in 1983...
stated that he had questions about Lawton's health. However, team officials also stated that Lawton was completely healthy. At the start of the 2003 season, Lawton's teammate Milton Bradley commented that people would confuse him for Lawton. Bradley joked, "I mean, give me Matt Lawton's paycheck...I'll be Matt." During both the 2002 and 2003 seasons, Lawton purchased tickets for a Boys & Girls Clubs of America group called “Lawton Little Leaguers”. On July 11, 2003, Lawton was placed on the disabled list after jamming
Jammed finger
The term jammed finger refers to finger joint pain and swelling from an impact injury. This injury tends to be very painful, and immediate treatment will usually help heal the joint faster. Most jammed fingers heal relatively quickly, if no fracture occurs...
his middle finger
Middle finger
The middle finger or long finger is the third digit of the human hand, located between the index finger and the ring finger. It is usually the longest finger...
. He rehabbed in the minor leagues, batting .053 in five games with the Double-A Akron Aeros. Lawton was activated from the disabled list on August 18. To make room for Lawton after his activation, the Indians optioned infielder Zach Sorensen
Zach Sorensen
Zach Hart Sorensen is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop.Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 2nd round of the amateur draft, Sorensen would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Indians on June 3,...
to the minor leagues. On September 9, Lawton was again placed on the disabled list due to issues with his middle finger. Lawton also underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus
Meniscus (anatomy)
In anatomy, a meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure that, in contrast to articular disks, only partly divides a joint cavity. In humans it is present in the knee, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and temporomandibular joints; in other organisms they may be present in other...
, marking the second time in as many years that he finished his season with surgery. The procedure was performed by Indians' team doctor Mark Schickendantz. With the Indians in 2003, Lawton batted .249 with 57 runs scored, 93 hits, 19 doubles, 15 home runs, 53 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases in 99 games played.
On April 6, 2004, Lawton filed a report with the Philadelphia Police Department
Philadelphia Police Department
The Philadelphia Police Department is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
regarding a jewelry theft in his hotel room. Lawton, who was in Philadelphia with the Indians, reported that the jewelry in question was worth US$117,000. On April 18, Lawton hit two home runs in a game against the Detroit Tigers. Lawton was selected to play in the 2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 75th playing of the midseason exhibition baseball game between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 13, 2004 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas,...
that season. In that game, he got one hit in two at-bats. On August 9, Lawton hit a game-winning home run against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. On the season, Lawton batted .277 with 109 runs scored, 164 hits, 25 doubles, 20 home runs, 70 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases in 150 games played. As a fielder, he played 124 games in right field, and 19 in left field. On defense, Lawton committed four errors; and made nine assists and 266 putouts. Amongst American League batters, Lawton was tied for fifth in double plays grounded into (21), tied for sixth in stolen bases, and was tied for tenth in caught stealing (9).
Pittsburgh Pirates (2005)
The Cleveland Indians traded Lawton to the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
on December 11, 2004. The Indians received pitcher Arthur Rhodes
Arthur Rhodes
Arthur Lee Rhodes, Jr. is a Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher.-Career:Rhodes played high school baseball at La Vega High School in Waco, Texas. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2nd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft.Rhodes made his MLB debut with the Orioles...
in the trade. Both teams received cash considerations from each other. Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield
Dave Littlefield
David Littlefield is a former Major League Baseball executive. Littlefield was employed as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, a position he held from July 13, 2001 to September 7, 2007. He took over as GM for Roy Smith, who had assumed the position on a temporary...
commented on the acquisition by saying "Lawton, we think, is a good fit. With this move we've been able to help our offense". Lawton was slated to be the team's leadoff hitter
Leadoff hitter
In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. It can also refer to any batter who bats first in an inning.- Strategy :...
after the departure of the man who hit in that position during the 2004 season, Jason Kendall
Jason Kendall
Jason Daniel Kendall is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He is the son of former catcher Fred Kendall, who played in the majors from 1969–1980.-High school:...
. On July 14, 2005, Lawton acknowledged he was hearing rumors that the Pirates were considering trading him before the July 31 no-waiver trade deadline. As a member of the Pirates that season, Lawton batted .273 with 53 runs scored, 102 hits, 28 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 44 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases in 101 games played.
Chicago Cubs (2005)
On July 31, 2005, Lawton was traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in exchange for outfielder Jody Gerut
Jody Gerut
Joseph Diego Gerut is a former Major League Baseball center fielder. He attended Jackson Middle School, Willowbrook High School, and later Stanford University...
. The Cubs acquired Lawton to be their leadoff hitter. Todd Walker, the Cubs second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
at the time, was happy that his team traded for Lawton, who had been his friend since playing in the minor leagues together. Lawton said this about the trade:
Lawton batted leadoff in his debut with the Cubs, which was against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on August 2. In that debut, Lawton got two hits in five at-bats. He hit his first and only home with the Cubs on August 14, against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. With Chicago that season, Lawton batted .244 with eight runs scored, 19 hits, two doubles, one home run, and five RBIs in 19 games played. Authors of Cubs by the Numbers, Al Yellon, Kasey Ignarski, and Matthew Silverman
Matthew Silverman
Matthew Silverman is an former investment banker who is currently the President of the Tampa Bay Rays. After graduating cum laude from Harvard and working for Goldman Sachs, he took the position in October 2005 when control of the team transferred to new majority owner Stuart Sternberg.Prior to...
later commented that Lawton's tenure with the Cubs was "useless".
New York Yankees (2005)
Lawton was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the New York Yankees on August 27, 2005. In exchange, the Yankees gave the Cubs pitcher Justin BergJustin Berg
Justin Christopher Berg is a right-handed professional baseball pitcher.Berg made his Major League debut on August 13, 2009 for the Chicago Cubs with two scoreless innings in relief against the Philadelphia Phillies....
, who was a member of the New York's minor league system since 2003. Yankees manager Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
commented that adding Lawton to the roster gave the team more depth and described him as a "talented player". Lawton got his first hit as a member of the Yankees in his debut with the team on August 27, against the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. His first Yankees home run came against the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
on August 29. It was noted by MLB.com that Lawton struggled as a member of the Yankees. In 21 games with the Yankees, Lawton batted .125 with six runs runs scored, six hits, two home runs, and four RBIs. Combined between the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Chicago Cubs, and the Yankees that season, he batted .254 with 67 runs scored, 127 hits, 30 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 53 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases 141 games played. At the end of the season, Lawton ranked tenth in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in caught stealing (9). Amongst fielders, he was second in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
(.995) as a right fielder.
Performance-enhancing drug use
On November 3, 2005, it was announced that Lawton had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. This led to a 10-day suspension by Major League Baseball. As a free agent at the time, Lawton was to serve his suspension at the start of the 2006 regular season. The test was taken after Lawton's acquisition by the New York Yankees in August 2005. The specific drug he was suspended for was the veterinary steroid boldenoneBoldenone
Boldenone , also known under the trade names Equipoise, Ganabol, Equigan and Ultragan, is an anabolic steroid developed for veterinary use, mostly for treatment of horses...
. Lawton made the following statement to the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
following his suspension:
Seattle Mariners (2006)
At the start of the 2005–06 free agent cycle, Lawton had eight teams that he would sign with. Two teams were intermediately not interested. The Seattle Mariners, which were one of the teams Lawton wanted to join, were wary of taking Lawton because of his drug suspension, but eventually signed him. The deal was made official on December 23, 2005. His contract was a one-year major league contract worth US$400,000, with more than US$1 million in possible incentives. It also had a no-trade clause. During spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 2006, the Mariners allowed Lawton and teammate Eddie Guardado
Eddie Guardado
Edward Adrian Guardado is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Throughout his career, Guardado had played with the Minnesota Twins , Seattle Mariners , Cincinnati Reds , and the Rangers .His common nickname is "Everyday Eddie", a testament to his durable arm during his first stint with the...
leave camp to attended the funeral services for their former teammate Kirby Puckett
Kirby Puckett
Kirby Puckett was a Major League Baseball center fielder. He played his entire 12-year baseball career with the Minnesota Twins and he is the Twins franchise's all-time leader in career hits, runs, doubles, and total bases...
. Lawton returned from his suspension on April 12. After activating him on the roster, the Mariners designated catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Guillermo Quiróz
Guillermo Quiroz
Guillermo Antonio Quiroz [gee-YARE-mo kee-ROZE] is a Major League Baseball catcher who is currently in the San Diego Padres organization.-Biography:...
for assignment. Lawton gave Mariners officials the permission required to release him, saying that "I went to them in a friendly manner and just said 'Hey, I'll be the guy you can send out' if they felt the need". Lawton was designated for assignment on May 20. Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi
Bill Bavasi
William J. Bavasi, born December 27, 1957 in Scarsdale, New York, is a former general manager and vice president of baseball operations for the Seattle Mariners, and currently works as a Special Assistant to the GM for the Cincinnati Reds, under Reds GM Walt Jocketty...
added Mike Morse
Mike Morse
Michael John Morse is a Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman for the Washington Nationals.-Professional career:...
to the major league roster in Lawton's place. With the Mariners that season, Lawton batted .259 with five runs scored, seven hits, and one RBI in 11 games played.
Personal
Lawton was born on November 30, 1971 in Gulfport, MississippiGulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson. It is the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. As of the...
. Lawton has a wife, Cazesta. Lawton has a daughter, Chassity, born July 3, 1993. He also has a son, Chaseton, born October 3, 2000. Lawton's brother, Marcus Lawton
Marcus Lawton
Marcus Dwayne Lawton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born on August 18, 1965 in Gulfport, Mississippi. He was drafted by the New York Mets in 1983. and played in 10 career games with the New York Yankees in 1989, with 3 hits in 14 at bats. He played his final game on October 1,...
, was also a professional baseball player. During his brother's playing career in the New York Mets organization, Matt Lawton was the team's batboy
Batboy
A batboy is an individual who carries the baseball bats around to a baseball team. A batboy may also lay out the equipment and mud the baseballs to be used in the game.Mascots and batboys had both been part of baseball since the 1880s....
. He also has a younger brother, O. J.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball players suspended for performance-enhancing drugs