Casey Lawrence Bio
Casey Lee Lawrence (born October 28, 1987), nicknamed “Twig,” is an American professional baseball pitcher currently in the Seattle Mariners organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Lawrence has built a career spanning multiple organizations, notable for his versatility as both a starter and reliever across minor league and major league levels.
Early Life and Background
Lawrence was born in McSherrystown, Pennsylvania, and attended Delone Catholic High School in his hometown. Undrafted out of high school, he continued his athletic and academic career at Albright College, where he pitched and played first base for the football school’s baseball team.
In four seasons at Albright College, Lawrence compiled an 18–8 win–loss record with a 2.81 earned run average in 2562/3 innings. He holds the all-time strikeout record for the program with 251 career strikeouts. As a first baseman, he batted .256 with four home runs and 41 runs batted in. Lawrence also played college basketball during his first year at Albright before dedicating himself fully to baseball.
Path to Professional Baseball
Despite not being selected in the 2010 Major League Baseball draft, Lawrence signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as an undrafted free agent. In lieu of a signing bonus, he received a plane ticket to Dunedin, Florida, to begin his professional career. He was assigned to the Low-A Auburn Doubledays, where he was named a mid-season All-Star, and earned a promotion to the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts before the end of the season. In total during his first professional season, Lawrence went 7–2 with a 2.33 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 771/3 innings pitched.
Lawrence spent several years climbing through the Blue Jays minor league system, advancing from Single-A to Double-A and eventually Triple-A. His persistence and consistent performance eventually earned him a call-up to the majors in 2017 after seven seasons in the minors.
Casey Lawrence Career
Minor League Development (2010–2016)
Lawrence spent the majority of 2011 with the Lansing Lugnuts and demonstrated resilience by turning his season around. After holding a 5–8 record at the start of July, he went 9–1 with a 1.93 ERA for the remainder of the campaign. He appeared in four separate stints with the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays that season, going 3–1 with a 2.84 ERA in his brief appearances.
He opened the 2012 season with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats and continued to refine his craft in the Blue Jays system. Lawrence returned to the Fisher Cats in 2014 and went 9–9 with a 3.69 ERA in 1511/3 innings. In August 2015, he set the all-time wins record with New Hampshire after earning his 20th career win as a Fisher Cat. In a career-high 1672/3 innings that season, he went 12–14 with a 4.56 ERA and 97 strikeouts.
Toronto Blue Jays and MLB Debut (2017)
On April 8, 2017, the Blue Jays called up Lawrence to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut that same night against the Tampa Bay Rays, taking the loss after walking in the winning run in the 11th inning. He was designated for assignment on May 8 after pitching 13 and 1/3 innings in the majors.
Seattle Mariners (2017–2018)
On May 11, 2017, Lawrence was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners. On June 1, he set a Mariners franchise record for most strikeouts in a single relief appearance when he struck out 9 batters over 5 innings against the Colorado Rockies. Lawrence earned his first major league win on August 1, pitching 22/3 innings of relief against the Texas Rangers in an 8–7 Mariners victory. Between the two teams in 2017, he went 2–3 with a 6.34 ERA.
Lawrence’s contract was purchased by the Mariners on March 28, 2018, and he made the Mariners Opening Day roster. He went 1–0 with a 7.33 ERA in 11 games with Seattle that season. He was released on November 29, 2018, to pursue an opportunity in Japan.
Hiroshima Toyo Carp (2019)
In December 2018, Lawrence signed with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball. He pitched in just one game for the Carp in 2019, allowing 6 runs in 5 innings. He also appeared in 21 games for the Carp’s minor league team in the Western League before becoming a free agent on December 2, 2019.
Return to North America (2020–2023)
Lawrence signed with the Minnesota Twins on January 28, 2020, but was released before the season began. He re-signed with the Twins in August but did not appear in a game for the organization in the shortened season. On March 30, 2021, he signed with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League before the Toronto Blue Jays purchased his contract and assigned him to Triple-A Buffalo on May 19.
Lawrence began the 2022 season with Buffalo and was added to the Blue Jays active roster on May 4. He returned to the Blue Jays on a minor league contract in January 2023 and made 18 starts for Triple-A Buffalo, going 3–7 with a 4.67 ERA. He exercised the opt-out clause in his contract and was released on July 17, 2023.
St. Louis Cardinals (2023)
On July 20, 2023, Lawrence signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. After three starts for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, the Cardinals selected his contract on August 15 after Steven Matz was placed on the injured list. In 15 games for St. Louis, he had a 6.59 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 271/3 innings pitched. He was removed from the 40-man roster in October and elected free agency.
Seattle Mariners Return (2024–Present)
On February 7, 2024, Lawrence signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners that included an invitation to spring training. In 29 starts for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, he logged an 11–11 record and 5.95 ERA with 108 strikeouts across 165 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season and re-signed with the Mariners on November 15.
Lawrence began the 2025 season with Triple-A Tacoma and was added to the Mariners active roster on April 9. His 2025 campaign was marked by significant roster movement. He appeared in games with Seattle and Toronto, going 1–2 with a 4.08 ERA in 171/3 major league innings. Lawrence once again re-signed with Seattle on a new minor league contract and returned to Triple-A Tacoma. He threw a complete game two-hitter on July 24, becoming the first 37-year-old to accomplish that feat in Triple-A since Ramón Ortiz in 2010.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lawrence has demonstrated versatility throughout his career, capable of working as both a starter and reliever. His ability to log extended innings and his durability have been notable throughout his minor league career, including multiple seasons with more than 150 innings pitched. His professional approach and experience in multiple professional leagues have allowed him to adapt to different roles and organizations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Lawrence set a Mariners franchise record for most strikeouts in a single relief appearance with 9 strikeouts over 5 innings against the Colorado Rockies in June 2017. His complete game two-hitter in July 2025 marked a historic achievement, making him the first 37-year-old to throw such a game in Triple-A since 2010.
Casey Lawrence Career Wins
Lawrence has compiled professional statistics across multiple leagues and organizations throughout his career spanning from 2010 to present.
Major League Baseball Highlights
In MLB play, Lawrence has accumulated a 5–6 win–loss record with a 6.42 earned run average and 104 strikeouts across his career with Toronto, Seattle, and St. Louis. His first major league win came on August 1, 2017, with the Mariners against the Texas Rangers. He earned his second win with the Mariners in 2018. In 2025, he recorded his fifth career major league victory.
Minor League and International Highlights
Lawrence’s minor league career includes multiple seasons with double-digit wins, including a 12-win season with New Hampshire in 2015 and an 11-win season with Tacoma in 2024. He holds the all-time strikeout record at Albright College with 251 career strikeouts. Internationally, he won the USA Baseball International Performance of the Year Award in 2024 for his six shutout innings in the bronze medal victory over Venezuela at the WBSC Premier12 tournament.
| League | Record | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | 5–6 | 6.42 | 104 |
| NPB | 0–1 | 10.80 | 3 |
Casey Lawrence Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Lawrence was born and raised in McSherrystown, Pennsylvania, where he attended Delone Catholic High School. His path to professional baseball included stops at Albright College before signing as an undrafted free agent.
Personal Life
Lawrence and his wife, Sarah, have two children and are expecting their third child in September 2025. During his baseball career, Lawrence has maintained connections with his alma mater, and he won a three-point shooting contest during the Mariners’ 2024 spring training, showcasing the athletic ability that helped him succeed in multiple sports during his college years.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Lawrence’s return to the Seattle Mariners organization for a third stint with the club. After beginning the year with Triple-A Tacoma, he was added to the active roster on April 9 and experienced significant roster movement throughout the spring and early summer months. He appeared in games with both Seattle and Toronto during the season.
Lawrence compiled a 1–2 record with a 4.08 ERA in 171/3 major league innings across six appearances with the Mariners and Blue Jays. His most notable Triple-A achievement came on July 24 when he threw a complete game two-hitter for Tacoma, an accomplishment that drew attention for being achieved by a 37-year-old pitcher in the minor leagues.
Following the season, Lawrence elected free agency on November 6 but quickly re-signed with the Mariners on November 27 on a new minor league contract, indicating his continued commitment to continuing his professional career. His persistence through multiple organizations and roster transactions reflects the resilience that has characterized his professional journey.