Major League Arms Coming Back With Sharks

By Brian Bohl on May 25, 2008

Four years ago, Brian Lawrence and Ryan Drese combined for 29 wins as solid middle-of-the-rotation pitchers. Now, the two right-handers are simply trying to make it back to the major leagues.

Arm surgeries have regulated Lawrence and Drese to the Atlantic League’s Camden Riversharks, where they hope to show MLB scouts that they can recapture the movement and velocity they possessed before the injuries.

The duo has helped pitch Camden into first place in the Liberty Division. Both pitched well in Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Ducks at Citibank Park, as Drese looked almost fully recovered from Tommy John surgery.

Lawrence also said he feels completely healthy after a torn labrum in his right shoulder wiped out his 2006 campaign. Lawrence returned to action the next season, making 19 starts in Triple-A and six for the Mets, going 1-2 while logging a 6.83 ERA.

“Everyone I talked to says you don’t feel 100 percent for two years. Knowing the way I feel now, it’s true,” Lawrence said. “I pitched last year and I wasn’t 100 percent. I thought I was, but I felt it between starts. Now, I can go out and pitch and feel good about the recovering and bouncing back.”

In his first five starts for the Riversharks, Lawrence is 2-1. The 6-2, 195-pound hurler picked up that second victory in the nightcap of the twinbill, limiting the Ducks to three runs in six innings in Camden’s 6-3 victory. Lawrence said his Mets’ stint was frustrating because his numbers weren’t indicative of his ability.

“It’s frustrating because I was able to pitch in the big leagues and throw 200 innings and have double digit wins,” Lawrence said. “Now, I feel like I was a better pitcher than I was then. I can’t even get a job. But you try to put all that aside and go out there. I’ll go where I’ll go.”

From 2002-04, Lawrence racked up at least 10 victories as a member of the Padres. He logged a career-best 15 wins in 2004, tossing two complete games and a 4.12 ERA. The 32-year-old is a career 50-63 in six major league seasons.

Camden manager Joe Ferguson said the independent minor league provides veterans a chance to showcase skills while also allowing younger players to benefit from watching how an ex-big leaguer prepares between starts.

“It’s his experience and you hope the younger pitchers watch how he goes about his business,” said Ferguson, who knows a thing or two about pitchers having caught 14 years for four organizations. “He doesn’t pitch out of contact. He pitches into contact and he’s not afraid to throw the ball over the plate and you need to do that to be a successful pitcher.

“He’s been an absolute joy to be around and I hope he finds a way back to the major leagues.”

Opposing batters can usually tell if they are facing an experienced pitcher. Estee Harris went 1-2 against Lawrence and said mound presence is one difference he noticed when he stepped on the plate.

“I could tell right away that he was very sure of himself,” Harris said. “There’s definitely a difference. Knowing who he is, he’s not going to make many mistakes so you just have to make sure that when you get a pitch you can do something with, make sure that you do it. If he makes a mistake, you have to make him pay because chances are you’re not going to see that good pitch again.”

Lawrence is just one of 37 pitchers in major league history to strike out the side on nine pitches, accomplishing the “immaculate inning” in 2002 when set down Baltimore’s Brook Fordyce, Jerry Hairston Jr. and Melvin Mora. The Fort Collins, Co. native said that is not his favorite accomplishment.

“I didn’t even realize I did it until after the game,” Lawrence said. “Looking back, that was nice, and to me, the complete-game shutouts are fond memories. Getting my 15th win in 2004 was a goal I had to set. To be able to reach that was something special to me.”

Lawrence made his debut with San Diego in 2001 following a three-year apprenticeship in the minor leagues. The Padres eventually traded him to the Nationals at the end of the 2006 season in exchange for Vinny Castilla. Lawrence never pitched for Washington before getting released.

Lawrence, who starred for Northwestern State University, was 13-13 and posted a 3.81 ERA for the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate last year. Those numbers did not lead to a contract offer or even a spring training invite; a snub Lawrence can use as motivation.

“I didn’t think there’d be any way I couldn’t get a Triple-A job at least,” Lawrence said. “You have goals. Obviously, I want to be in the big leagues and I think I’m good enough. I can’t look forward and guess where I’m going to be.”

Readers Comments