Detroit Tigers MLB Draft Player Profile: SS Jordan Lawlar

We are a few days into MLB Draft Month here at Motor City Bengals, and today we begin our profiles of potential Detroit Tigers draft picks with Jordan Lawlar, a shortstop from the Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas, Texas. Be sure to check out yesterday’s Mock Draft, and keep an eye out for more draft player profiles in the coming days.

Jordan Lawlar Background

Jordar Lawlar has been a fixture at tournaments and summer showcase events for years, and he was recognized as a potentially elite prospect relatively early. He is committed to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University, but is widely considered a top-three talent in the draft, and probably won’t reach campus.

His youth baseball club, the Dallas Tigers, makes use of some familiar logos, and boasts impressive alumni, like current big leaguers Clayton Kershaw, Corey Kluber, and Michael Kopech, as well as Detroit Tigers Beau Burrows, Tyler Collins, Michael Hollimon, Jake Thompson, and Drew VerHagen. Lawlar turns 19 a few weeks before the draft, which is considered a bit old for a high-school player, but it shouldn’t affect his draft status.

Jordan Lawlar Scouting Report

Jordan Lawlar is a right-handed hitter who stands 6’2 and weighs 185 pounds. He gets labeled as a five-tool player because his arm strength, defense, hitting ability, power, and speed all project to be at least average at the MLB level.

Lawlar stands out most for his advanced hit tool, which he repeatedly put on display during the 2020 summer showcase circuit. He handles velocity well and has proven adept and making hard contact to the opposite field.

Here is what MLB Pipeline has to say about the rest of his tools:

"With his bat speed and the projectable strength in his 6-foot-2 frame, he should develop solid power once he adds strength and starts turning on more pitches. Lawlar’s plus speed plays well on the bases and in the field, and he’ll even clock some well-above-average run times on occasion. The Vanderbilt recruit is a no-doubt shortstop with plenty of range, quick hands and a strong arm, though like most youngsters he needs to improve his defensive consistency."

And FanGraphs says this:

"Lawlar is a complete prospect. He has terrific defensive hands, feet, and actions, enough arm strength for the left side of the infield, and advanced feel to hit and barrel control. He’s similar to Cubs 2020 first rounder Ed Howard in that Lawlar is well-rounded and plays a premium position but isn’t especially toolsy, but Howard had more physical projection while Lawlar’s swing has more natural leverage and loft. Lawlar’s ability to impact balls at the top of the strike zone will be valuable in a pro environment that features velo at the letters."

Jordan Lawlar Stats

Will the Detroit Tigers draft Jordan Lawlar?

Most mock drafts over the last few months have Jordan Lawlar going first or second overall, though Jim Callis’ most recent mock had Lawlar going to the Detroit Tigers with the third pick.

Most rumors have the Tigers tied to fellow prep infielders Marcelo Mayer and Brady House, and the assumption now is the Tigers prefer Mayer, but it’s hard to picture them passing on Lawlar should he be available.