Blue Jays’ top prospect Brett Lawrie ready for minor league season with Las Vegas

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 | 2:05 a.m.

Las Vegas 51s infielder Brett Lawrie was just an infant when Joe Carter hit the game-winning home run for the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1993 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The 21-year-old Lawrie, a native of British Columbia, Canada, could soon be in the position to produce more memorable moments for the Blue Jays. He was traded to the organization in December from the Milwaukee Brewers in a deal that sent established starter Shaun Marcum to Milwaukee. Las Vegas is Toronto’s top minor league affiliate.

Lawrie, the 16th overall pick in 2008 by the Brewers, was ecstatic to be dealt to Canada. He wasn’t necessarily a fan of the Blue Jays growing up but has great appreciation for the organization’s past successes — especially Carter’s home run.

“For me, it was just a good opportunity to start fresh,” Lawrie said of the trade. “I feel real comfortable over here. This is kind of the first time I have felt this comfortable in a long time. I feel like I’m in a good place; a lot of good people.”

Lawrie, who is ranked as the Blue Jays’ No. 2 overall prospect by Baseball America, is one of just a few top prospects on the 51s Opening Day roster. They start the season Thursday with a four-game series at the Fresno Grizzlies. Of Toronto’s top 30 prospects, just four are with Las Vegas.

Lawrie has all of the credentials to be a big-league star.

He was the highest-selected Canadian position player in draft history, played for Canada in the 2008 Olympics and 2009 World Baseball Classic, and took part in the 2009 Futures All-Star game.

“He is going to have to make some adjustments,” Las Vegas manager Marty Brown said. “If he was ready right now, he would be there. Offensively, he will have some challenges. Defensively, he still has some work to do on the corner.

“But he has made huge progress,” Brown said. “That is one of the things that is so exciting. He is young, and his athleticism allows him to make these adjustments.”

Lawrie batted .285 with eight home runs and 63 RBIs last year in Double-A Huntsville (Ala.) of the Brewers organization. He had 90 runs, 16 triples and 30 stolen bases.

Lawrie played second base in the Brewers organization but will be shifted to third base in Las Vegas. He also played catcher as a junior in Canada.

Whether it’s getting familiar with a new spot on the infield or getting accustomed to a different level of baseball, Lawrie is approaching the season as a learning experience. He takes pride in playing the game with an energetic style.

“I’m looking to win every day,” he said. “I am a fiery player, so I’m going to be running everything out hard, trying to make the routine play and try to make the good one along the way.”

Lawrie displayed talent during spring training, proving to Toronto brass that he’s everything as advertised. In parts of 17 games, he hit .282 with two home runs and six RBIs, also impressing with a solid defensive effort in his debut at third base.

“The fact is that we have an exciting young player in our system and when he’s ready to come to the big leagues and be in the lineup every day,” Blue Jays manager John Farrell told the Toronto Star. “We feel like we’re going to have a player for a long, long time that’s going to be a productive one.”