Eric Lauer

Eric Lance Lauer is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. Born in Elyria, Ohio, on June 3, 1995, Lauer developed his craft as a standout high school pitcher before becoming one of college baseball most dominant arms at Kent State University. The San Diego Padres selected Lauer in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft, and he has since built a professional career spanning multiple organizations across Major League Baseball and the Korean Baseball Organization. He won the Korean Series championship with the Kia Tigers in 2024 before returning to MLB with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025. Throughout his career, Lauer has established himself as a durable starting pitcher capable of logging significant innings and contributing meaningfully to playoff-caliber teams.

Early Life and Background

Eric Lance Lauer was born and raised in Elyria, Ohio, where he attended Midview High School in Grafton, Ohio. At Midview, Lauer played both pitcher and first baseman for the school baseball team, quickly drawing attention from MLB scouts thanks to his explosive 94-mile-per-hour fastball. He was a member of the National Honor Society during high school and also took college courses at Lorain County Community College while completing his secondary education. As a senior at Midview in 2013, Lauer pitched to a remarkable 7-0 win-loss record with a microscopic 0.15 earned run average, allowing just one earned run across 47 innings while striking out 96 batters and surrendering only 12 hits and eight walks.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer recognized Lauer as their player of the year for 2013, and he was also named Lorain County Mr. Baseball. His dominant high school performance attracted interest from multiple college programs, initially leading him to commit to the University of Kentucky before he rescinded that decision and instead committed to Kent State University. Growing up, Lauer was a fan of the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball, which helped foster his passion for pitching at the highest level of the sport.

Path to Professional Baseball

Despite his outstanding high school career, Lauer was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 17th round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He turned down a signing bonus exceeding $1 million to attend college, demonstrating his commitment to developing his skills at the collegiate level. Playing for the Kent State Golden Flashes, Lauer immediately made an impact, posting a 5-4 win-loss record with a 1.98 ERA and 103 strikeouts during his sophomore season in 2015. During the summer of that year, he pitched for the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he earned recognition as a league all-star.

Lauer saved his most spectacular season for his junior year in 2016, finishing with a 0.69 ERA that represented the lowest in college baseball since 1979. This dominant performance earned him both the National Pitcher of the Year Award and the Mid-American Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Year Award, solidifying his status as one of the top pitching prospects in the country. His exceptional college career culminated in the San Diego Padres selecting him with the 25th overall pick in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft, and he signed with the organization shortly thereafter receiving a $2 million signing bonus.

Eric Lauer Career

San Diego Padres (2018–2019)

Eric Lauer began his professional career in 2016 with the Arizona Padres of the Rookie-level Arizona League before receiving promotions to the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Low-A Northwest League and the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Single-A Midwest League. He concluded his first professional season with a 1-1 record and a 2.03 ERA, recording 37 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched. The following year, Lauer opened the season with the Lake Elinore Storm of the High-A California League, where he posted a 2-5 record with a 2.79 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 67 and two-thirds innings before earning a promotion to the San Antonio Missions of the Double-A Texas League in July.

The Padres promoted Lauer to the major leagues on April 24, 2018, and he made his MLB debut that same day against the Colorado Rockies. Though he struggled in his debut, yielding six earned runs on six hits and four walks across three innings, Lauer settled into a solid rookie campaign. He finished the 2018 season with a 6-7 record and 4.34 ERA across 23 starts, striking out 100 batters in 112 innings. Notably, he led all major league pitchers with 10 pickoffs while allowing only five stolen bases with two caught stealing, demonstrating exceptional fielding skills for a pitcher.

Milwaukee Brewers (2020–2023)

On November 27, 2019, the Padres traded Lauer and Luis Urias to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Trent Grisham, Zach Davies, and cash considerations. Lauer began the 2020 season with the Brewers but encountered significant challenges, including placement on the injured list in July after coming into close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. He battled through a shoulder injury during the shortened season, recording a 13.09 ERA with 12 strikeouts across four games and 11 innings pitched.

Health returned for Lauer in 2021 when he made 20 starts and posted a 3.19 ERA, also hitting his first career home run on May 26 against his former team, the San Diego Padres. He reached his career peak with the Brewers during the 2022 campaign, making 29 starts and compiling an 11-7 record with a 3.69 ERA and 157 strikeouts across 158 and two-thirds innings. The Brewers rewarded his strong season by agreeing to a one-year, $5.075 million contract in January 2023, though he struggled significantly that year with a 4-6 record and 6.56 ERA in just nine starts before the team removed him from the 40-man roster and sent him outright to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, prompting him to elect free agency in late October.

Kia Tigers (2024)

Following his departure from the Brewers, Lauer signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates in March 2024, but he struggled in limited action with their Triple-A affiliate, posting a 5.52 ERA across six starts. He exercised an opt-out clause in mid-May and signed with the Houston Astros organization, where he continued to work toward a return to form with their Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. After being released in August, Lauer found his opportunity abroad, signing with the Kia Tigers of the KBO League on August 1, 2024. He made his debut for the team on August 11, starting a game against the Samsung Lions, and appeared in seven starts for Kia, logging a 2-2 record with a 4.93 ERA and 37 strikeouts across 34 and two-thirds innings. Importantly, Lauer helped the Tigers capture the 2024 Korean Series championship, adding a unique international title to his resume.

Toronto Blue Jays (2025)

Lauer signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on December 13, 2024, and began the 2025 season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He posted a 1-3 record with a 4.50 ERA through his first five starts before the Blue Jays selected his contract on April 30, 2025, adding him to their active roster. Lauer delivered an impressive regular season, compiling a 9-2 record with a 3.18 ERA. He also contributed during the postseason, pitching 8 and two-thirds innings during the Blue Jays run to the 2025 World Series, including 4 and two-thirds innings in the historic 18-inning World Series Game 3.

Prior to the 2026 season, Lauer and the Blue Jays went to salary arbitration, with the arbiter choosing Toronto’s $4.4 million proposal over Lauer’s request for $5.75 million. The Blue Jays often utilized Lauer as a bulk reliever following an opener, a role he publicly expressed discomfort with. After posting a 6.69 ERA in 36 and one-third innings, Lauer was designated for assignment on May 11, 2026.

Los Angeles Dodgers (2026–Present)

On May 17, 2026, the Blue Jays traded Lauer to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations and a player to be named later. Joining the defending World Series champions, Lauer provides starting pitching depth and experience to a franchise with championship aspirations. His ability to work as both a starter and bulk reliever gives the Dodgers flexibility in how they deploy their pitching staff throughout the season.

Eric Lauer Career Wins

Through June 22, 2026, Eric Lauer has compiled a 48-44 win-loss record across his MLB career with a 4.19 earned run average and 711 strikeouts spanning portions of eight professional seasons. His career has included successful stints with three different MLB franchises, highlighted by a 2022 season with the Brewers where he won 11 games and a productive 2025 campaign with the Blue Jays where he went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA during the regular season while contributing to their playoff run. His international experience with the Kia Tigers in 2024 resulted in a Korean Series championship, adding significant international success to his professional portfolio.

Major League Baseball Highlights

Lauer’s MLB career has been defined by his durability and consistency when healthy, particularly during his 2022 season with Milwaukee when he made 29 starts and logged nearly 159 innings while winning 11 games. His 2025 season with Toronto represented one of his best professional years, as he posted a 9-2 record with a 3.18 ERA while helping the Blue Jays reach the World Series. He has accumulated 711 career strikeouts in MLB while maintaining a solid 4.19 ERA across multiple organizations. His standout collegiate career, including his remarkable 0.69 ERA in 2016 that led the nation, established the foundation for his professional success.

International Success

During his brief stint with the Kia Tigers in the KBO League during 2024, Lauer made seven starts and posted a 2-2 record with a 4.93 ERA and 37 strikeouts across 34 and two-thirds innings. While his individual statistics were modest, his most significant achievement came as part of the Tigers team that captured the 2024 Korean Series championship, marking his first career international title. This experience in South Korea provided Lauer with valuable reps and confidence heading into his 2025 MLB return.

Eric Lauer Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Eric Lauer grew up in Elyria, Ohio, as a fan of the Cleveland Indians, but specific details about his family background and any sports lineage are not extensively documented in available sources. His path through high school and college baseball appears to have been built through his individual talent and dedication to the sport rather than through any notable family connections to professional athletics.

Personal Life

Lauer is married to his wife, Emily Lauer, and together they have a son. Despite the demands of a professional baseball career that has taken him to multiple organizations and even international play in South Korea, Lauer has maintained a stable family life. His ability to balance the rigors of professional sports with family responsibilities reflects his maturity and commitment to both his career and personal life.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season represented a bounce-back year for Eric Lauer after his brief international excursion. Signed to a minor league deal by the Toronto Blue Jays in December 2024, Lauer began the year with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons but quickly earned a promotion to the major league roster on April 30. He delivered consistent performance throughout the regular season, compiling a 9-2 record with an impressive 3.18 ERA while working primarily as a starting pitcher. His ability to limit opposing batters and pitch effectively into games made him a valuable asset for a Blue Jays team contending for a postseason spot.

The playoff portion of the 2025 season showcased Lauer’s big-game ability as he contributed 8 and two-thirds innings during the Blue Jays run to the World Series. His most memorable moment came in Game 3 of the World Series, where he pitched 4 and two-thirds innings in the historic 18-inning contest that set a new record for longest game in World Series history. Though the Blue Jays ultimately fell short of winning the championship, Lauer’s contributions throughout the postseason demonstrated his ability to rise to the occasion on the sport’s biggest stage. Prior to the 2026 season, his arbitration case highlighted his value, though the team ultimately opted to deploy him in a relief role that did not suit his preferences, leading to his eventual departure from the organization.