Eric Lauer Bio
Eric Lance Lauer is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed starter, he has spent time in the major leagues with the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers, and he also pitched one season in the KBO League for the Kia Tigers. Lauer first gained national attention as the National Pitcher of the Year at Kent State University before becoming a first-round selection in the 2016 MLB Draft.
Born in Elyria, Ohio, Lauer developed into one of the top college arms in the country thanks to a sharp breaking ball and a deceptive delivery. After debuting with San Diego in 2018, he has built a career marked by a Major League-leading pickoff total, a comeback season with Milwaukee, and a Korean Series title in Asia.
Early Life and Background
Eric Lance Lauer was born on June 3, 1995, in Elyria, Ohio, where he was raised. He attended Midview High School in nearby Grafton, Ohio, and pitched for the school’s baseball team while also lining up at first base. He balanced athletics with academics, earning membership in the National Honor Society, and even took college courses at Lorain County Community College while still in high school.
As a youth, Lauer rooted for the Cleveland Indians, the nearest Major League Baseball franchise to his hometown. Scouts first noticed him for a fastball that reached 94 miles per hour, a tool that helped him stand out on the Midview mound. He initially committed to play college baseball at the University of Kentucky before reversing course and pledging to Kent State University.
As a senior at Midview, Lauer posted a 7-0 win-loss record and a 0.15 earned run average, striking out 96 batters against only 12 hits and eight walks in 47 innings. The Cleveland Plain Dealer named him its 2013 player of the year, and he was also recognized as Lorain County’s Mr. Baseball. The Toronto Blue Jays even drafted him in the 17th round of the 2013 MLB Draft, but Lauer turned down a signing bonus reported to be in excess of one million dollars to attend college.
Path to Major League Baseball
At Kent State, Lauer blossomed into one of the most decorated pitchers in college baseball. During his sophomore season in 2015, he went 5-4 with a 1.98 ERA and 103 strikeouts, then spent that summer with the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he was named a league all-star. He finished his junior year with a 0.69 ERA, the lowest in college baseball since 1979, and he won both the National Pitcher of the Year Award and the Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year Award.
That performance made Lauer one of the most sought-after left-handers in the 2016 MLB Draft. The San Diego Padres selected him with the 25th overall pick in the first round and signed him to a contract that included a two million dollar signing bonus. He quickly advanced through the Padres’ minor league system, debuting with the Arizona Padres of the Rookie-level Arizona League before earning promotions to the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Northwest League and the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Midwest League.
Eric Lauer Career
Early Career (2016-2017)
In his first professional season of 2016, Lauer compiled a 1-1 record with a 2.03 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 31 innings across the lower levels of the Padres system. The Padres viewed him as a polished college arm capable of moving quickly, and he opened 2017 with the Lake Elsinore Storm of the High-A California League, where he went 2-5 with a 2.79 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 67 and two-thirds innings.
Lauer was promoted to the San Antonio Missions of the Double-A Texas League in July 2017, and in ten appearances he went 4-3 with a 3.93 ERA. The strong showing at Double-A set the stage for his assignment to the El Paso Chihuahuas of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League to begin 2018.
San Diego Padres (2018-2019)
The Padres promoted Lauer to the major leagues on April 24, 2018, and he made his MLB debut the same day against the Colorado Rockies, pitching three innings. In 23 starts during his rookie year, he went 6-7 with a 4.34 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 112 innings. He also led the major leagues with ten pickoffs while allowing only five stolen bases, a sign of his craft on the mound.
Lauer’s time with San Diego came to an end after the 2019 season when, on November 27, 2019, the Padres traded him along with Luis Urias to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Trent Grisham, Zach Davies, and either cash considerations or a player to be named later.
Milwaukee Brewers (2020-2023)
Lauer’s Milwaukee tenure began in challenging fashion during the shortened 2020 campaign, when he was briefly placed on the injured list after close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 and later battled a shoulder issue. He compiled a 13.09 ERA in limited action that year, but he rebounded in 2021 with a 3.19 ERA across 20 games started, even hitting his first career home run on May 26, 2021, a solo shot off Chris Paddack of the Padres.
The 2022 season marked his most productive year with Milwaukee. He made 29 starts, posted an 11-7 record, a 3.69 ERA, and 157 strikeouts in 158 and two-thirds innings, cementing himself as a reliable middle-of-the-rotation starter. He agreed to a one-year, $5.075 million contract on January 13, 2023, to avoid salary arbitration, but struggled the following season, going 4-6 with a 6.56 ERA in ten games before being removed from the 40-man roster and electing free agency on October 23, 2023.
Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros Stints (2024)
On March 7, 2024, Lauer signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and pitched for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, going 5.52 with 37 strikeouts in 29 and one-third innings across eight appearances. He exercised an opt-out clause in his contract on May 16, 2024, and was granted his release. Days later, on May 20, 2024, he signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros, where he made 11 appearances for the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys before being released on August 1 to pursue an opportunity overseas.
Kia Tigers (2024)
On August 1, 2024, Lauer signed with the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League, making his debut on August 11 against the Samsung Lions. In seven starts, he went 2-2 with a 4.93 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 34 and two-thirds innings. He helped Kia win the 2024 Korean Series, securing his first professional championship. The Tigers non-tendered him on November 30, 2024, returning him to free agency.
Toronto Blue Jays (2024-Present)
On December 13, 2024, Lauer signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He opened the year with a 1-3 record and a 4.50 ERA across his first five starts before the Blue Jays selected his contract on April 30, 2025, adding him to the active roster. The promotion signaled a fresh start for the left-hander in the American League East.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lauer is a crafty left-hander who relies on deception, command, and a sweeping breaking ball rather than overpowering velocity. His pickoff instincts helped him lead the majors in that category during his rookie year, and his willingness to keep hitters off balance has been a defining trait throughout his career. He pairs that approach with poise on the mound, allowing him to work deep into games when his command is sharp.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his standout moments, Lauer posted the lowest ERA in college baseball since 1979 during his junior year at Kent State, led the major leagues with ten pickoffs as a rookie, and launched his first career home run in 2021. His 2024 Korean Series championship with the Kia Tigers stands as the signature team achievement of his professional career.
Eric Lauer Career Wins
Across his professional career, Eric Lance Lauer has accumulated wins at every level, from the Cape Cod League to Major League Baseball and the Korean Baseball Organization. His most productive MLB season came in 2022 with the Brewers, while his biggest team accomplishment came overseas with Kia.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Lauer’s top MLB win totals include 11 victories during the 2022 season with the Milwaukee Brewers and six wins during his 2018 rookie campaign with the San Diego Padres. His first MLB victory came during that debut season, and his most recent big-league decision came after his promotion to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
In the KBO League, Lauer recorded two regular-season wins for the Kia Tigers before helping them capture the 2024 Korean Series title. Earlier in his career, he earned a 7-0 record in his senior season at Midview High School and was a Cape Cod League all-star during the summer of 2015 with the Orleans Firebirds.
Eric Lauer Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Eric Lance Lauer and his wife, Emily, are married and have a son. The couple has been based in Ohio and the Midwest during his professional career. Beyond those details, Lauer has kept much of his family life private from public view.
2025 Season Performance
Lauer entered 2025 with the Toronto Blue Jays organization after signing a minor league deal in December 2024. He opened the year with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, working through five starts before earning a promotion to the major league roster on April 30, 2025. His call-up gave the Blue Jays another left-handed option for their rotation.
Now pitching in the American League East, Lauer has the opportunity to provide length and reliability for a Toronto team eyeing a return to the postseason. His prior experience as a workhorse starter with Milwaukee in 2022 suggests he can handle a full starter’s workload if his command stays consistent.
Looking ahead, Lauer’s outlook hinges on staying healthy, limiting home runs, and refining his breaking ball against tough lineups. A successful run with the Blue Jays could position him for a longer stay in Toronto and reinforce his reputation as a dependable innings-eater.