Jordan Lawlar has returned to the major leagues looking to make an impact.
Lawlar made his big-league debut in 2023 shortly after his 21st birthday. While that stretch didn’t go well in limited games — he hit .129 in 31 at-bats with 11 strikeouts — Lawlar has remained one of baseball’s top prospects, even after a 2024 minor-league season wrecked by injuries. Lawlar recommitted himself this offseason, playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic before putting up historic numbers in April with the Reno Aces.
The now-22-year-old played well enough to earn a return call to the majors earlier this week hoping to be a different player than the one who made his debut in 2023.
“Perseverance, for sure,” Lawlar said of what he learned from the last 18 months. “Dealing with maybe some downfalls, some people could say, or some tough times. But I just flip the perspective and it’s an opportunity to get better every day. Flipping the perspective on it and then using that time to become better at whatever I can become better at.”
Before rejoining the Diamondbacks, Lawlar said he was looking forward to that recall to help Arizona win. Lawlar was with the team in 2023 when it reached the second World Series in franchise history where it lost to the Texas Rangers, 4-1.
“I’m putting in work every day, and I’m going out there prepared with a plan, and when I get up there, I want to help the team win,” Lawlar said. “That’s my plan, and that’s my goal.”
The No. 6 pick in the 2021 MLB draft out of Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, Lawlar was asked what he would tell his 18-year-old self about what was to come.
“A lot of the same principals I still live by day by day,” Lawlar said. “Come to the field with a plan committed to getting better every day. And I just keep growing as an overall player. And most of all, have fun. Have fun and enjoy the process.”
You can watch our full interview with Jordan Lawlar from before his call up to the big leagues below.