Eric Lance Lauer...Graduated from Midview High School in Grafton, Ohio, where he lettered all four years and won the conference championship in 2012 and 2013... As a senior, was named team captain, All-County, All-Conference, First Team All-State, team MVP, Pitcher of the Year and Lorain County D1 Player of the Year...Also played football, where he was named Second Team All-State in his senior year and Third Team All-State and Offensive Player of the Year as a junior...Was selected in the 17th round (505th overall) by the Blue Jays in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, but decided to attend Kent State...In three years at Kent State, he went 23-10 while posting a 1.86 ERA in 45 contests (42 starts) with 90 walks, 292 strikeouts, a 0.96 WHIP and a 9.7 K/9 in 270.1 total innings...During his junior season, he put together one of the most decorated seasons in the history of the school, posting the nation’s lowest ERA in more than 30 years (0.62 ERA)...Over 15 starts, he went 10-2 with 28 walks, 125 strikeouts, a 0.74 WHIP, three complete games and three shutouts...During the 2016 season, he was named Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year and the College Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher of the Year...Was inducted into the Kent State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024...Is a fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots...Enjoys golf, video games and playing the guitar.
2025
Made five appearances in the postseason, pitching 8.2 innings allowing three runs on six hits and six walks with eight strikeouts, while holding batters to a .194 average, a .324 OBP and a .226 SLG (.550 OPS)...Threw 4 2/3 shutout frames in Game 3 of the World Series at LAD, scattering a pair of hits and four walks with two strikeouts on 68 pitches (45 strikes)...Since 1985, the only longer shutout relief appearance in the World Series came from Madison Bumgarner, who threw five shutout innings for the Giants in Game 7 of the 2014 Fall Classic against the Royals...In his 13 appearances out of the bullpen in the regular season, posted a 1.76 ERA (6 ER/30.2 IP) with a 0.75 WHIP, a .144 OPP AVG, and a 24.8% strikeout rate...Made 15 starts for the club this year, going 6-2 with a 3.77 ERA (31 ER/74.0 IP), a 1.26 WHIP, a 67.3% strike rate and a 27.3% chase rate...Held right-handed batters to a .224 AVG (61-for-272) with a .278 OBP, and a 25.3% strikeout rate...Opponents hit just .194 against his four-seam fastball with a .223 xBA, and a .261 wOBA...Posted a 2.76 ERA through his first 20 appearances this season, the third-lowest through a pitcher’s first 20 appearances with the Blue Jays in franchise history (min. 85 IP), trailing only Roger Clemens (1.62) and Hyun Jin Ryu (2.61)...Tossed a season-high eight frames of one-run ball on July 24 at DET, scattering five hits with zero walks and six strikeouts... Marked the second-longest outing of his career, trailing only a 8 2/3 inning start on July 10, 2018 vs. LAD...Tossed a then-season-high six innings of two-run ball on three hits and one walk with six strikeouts, on a season-high 94 pitches on July 4 vs. LAA....Tossed five innings of one-run ball on four hits and on3 walk with a season-high eight strikeouts on June 18 vs. AZ, his most in a game since Sept. 29, 2022 vs. MIA (9)...Retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced over four shutout innings in relief on June 3 vs. PHI, surrendering zero hits and one walk with two strikeouts...Entered the game in the third inning on May 11 at SEA, pitching 4 2/3 shutout innings, allowing only one hit and one walk with five strikeouts...Made his first MLB appearance of the season on April 30 vs. BOS, throwing four innings of relief, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
2024
After being signed in March as a Minor League free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Lauer made one appearance in Spring Training, throwing 2.0 shutout innings before being assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis...In eight games (six starts) with Indianapolis, he posted a 5.52 ERA over 29.1 innings with a 1.43 WHIP, an 8.7% walk rate, a 29.1% strikeout rate and a 28.2% chase rate, before being released in May...A few days later, he was signed to a Minor League contract by the Houston Astros and assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land...In 11 appearances (10 starts) with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the left-hander recorded a 5.09 ERA (26 ER/46.0 IP) with a 3.96 FIP, a 9.4% walk rate, a 23% strikeout rate and a 29.9% chase rate...He was then released by Houston in August...After stints with the Pirates and Astros organizations, he then signed with the Kia Tigers of the KBO, going 2-2 while posting a 4.93 ERA (19 ER/34.2 IP) over seven starts with a 1.36 WHIP and a 9.6 K/9.
2023
Split the season between Milwaukee and Triple-A Nashville… Earned the win in his season debut on 4/2 at Chicago (NL) after allowing two runs in 5.1 innings… Was charged with his first loss in his next outing on 4/8 vs. St. Louis after allowing six runs in four innings…Allowed a combined three runs in 13.2 innings while winning back-to-back starts on 4/14 and 4/19…Lost three straight starts from 4/25 to 5/9…Was on the 15-day injured list from 5/22 to 6/12 with a right shoulder impingement…Began a rehab assignment with Nashville on 6/6…Was activated from the injured list and optioned to Triple-A on 6/14…Was assigned to the Arizona Complex League Brewers on 8/1, where he made one start…Was recalled from Nashville on 9/30, where he started against the Cubs and came away with a loss (4.0ip/8r).
2022
Went 11-7 with a 3.69 ERA in 29 starts with Milwaukee... The Brewers went 17-12 in his starts.....produced a career-high 13 quality starts... Had career highs in starts (29-tied), wins (11), innings (158.2) and strikeouts (157)... Held opponents to a .228 batting average.. Struck out a career-high 13 batters over 6.0 innings on 4/24 at Philadelphia as he received no decision in the Brewers’ 1-0 win.....was his first career 10+ strikeout game.....his 13 strikeouts tied Teddy Higuera (3x) for the most in a game in franchise history by a left-handed pitcher... Struck out 11 batters over 7.0 innings in a 9-1 win on 4/30 vs. Chicago-NL to join Teddy Higuera (1988) as the only left-handed pitchers in franchise history to have consecutive 10+ strikeout games... Was on the 15-day injured list from 9/10-9/22, retroactive to 9/8, with left elbow inflammation... Ended the season with 12.2 consecutive scoreless innings... Tossed 6.0 no-hit innings (4bb, 7k) in his final start of the season, earning a 3-0 win on 10/4 vs. Arizona... Signed a one-year contract on 1/13/23, avoiding arbitration.
2021
Went 7-5 with a 3.19 ERA in 24 games (20 starts) with Milwaukee...Had three stints with the team (4/29-5/14, 5/26-8/3 and 8/15-end of season)...Was on the injured list (COVID-19) from 8/4-8/14...Went 7-5 with a 3.04 ERA as a starter (106.2ip, 36er) and 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in relief (12ip, 6er)...Held opponents to a .215 batting average...The Brewers went 10-10 in his starts...produced eight quality starts...Went 6-2 with a 2.23 ERA over his last 15 games / 14 starts (80.2ip, 20er)...Belted his first career home run on 5/26 vs. San Diego with a solo shot off Chris Paddack...Tied his career-high with nine strikeouts (third time) over 6.2 innings in a 5-1 win on 9/24 vs. New York-NL...Started Game 4 of the NLDS at Atlanta and received no decision in the decisive 5-4 loss (3.2ip, 4h, 2r, 2er, 2bb, 2k, 1hbp)...Signed a one-year contract on 3/22/22, avoiding arbitration.
2020
Went 0-2 with a 13.09 ERA in four games (two starts) with Milwaukee...Had three stints with the team (7/26-8/12, 9/16 and 9/24-9/25)...Began the season on the injured list (non-injury related)...Struck out six batters in 2.2 scoreless innings of relief in his Brewers debut on 7/26 at Chicago-NL...tied John Henry Johnson (1986), Ray Krawczyk (1989) and Darren Holmes (1991) for the most relief strikeouts in a Brewers debut...Made his next 2 appearances as a starter, taking losses on 8/7 vs. Cincinnati (3ip, 6er) and 8/12 vs. Minnesota (3.2ip, 7er)…His final appearance of the season came in relief on 9/25 at St. Louis in the second game of a doubleheader (1.2ip, 3er).
2019
Went 8-10 with a 4.45 ERA in 30 games (29 starts) with San Diego... Made his first career Opening Day roster... Was the Opening Day starter on 3/28 vs. San Francisco and earned a 2-0 victory over Madison Bumgarner as he tossed 6.0 shutout innings, allowing 4 hits (1bb, 3k).... became the second-youngest pitcher in Padres history to start the opener, behind only Clay Kirby (1972)... The Padres went 15-14 in his starts... Produced 10 quality starts... Made his first career relief appearance on 7/28 vs. San Francisco (1.1ip, 2h, 1k)... Recorded a career-high 9 strikeouts on 9/1 at San Francisco (6ip - won) and 9/20 vs. Arizona (6ip - lost)... Traded to Milwaukee, along with INF Luis Urías and a player to be named or cash, in exchange for RHP Zach Davies and OF Trent Grisham on 11/27.
2018
Lauer (pronounced: LOUW-er, rhymes with "hour") became just the second pitcher of the entire 2016 draft class to make their ML debut, making 23 starts for SD after just 35 career minor league appearances (34 starts)...Became the 20th rookie in SD history to reach the 20-start plateau in a single season…teammate Joey Lucchesi became the 19th rookie to do so earlier in 2018, marking the first time SD has had two rookies make 20-or-more starts since 1977...it's now been done so five times (also: 1969, 1972 and 1974)...His 100 SO, along with Lucchesi's 145 SO, accounted for the first pair of SD rookies to surpass the 100-SO mark in the same season since Bob Shirley and Bob Owchinko in 1977...His 10 pickoffs led MLB, three more than the next closest hurler (SEA Marco Gonzales' seven)…Lauer (10) and Lucchesi (three) combined for 13 pickoffs, the most by a Padre rookie duo in franchise history…SD's 20 pickoffs ranked tied for first in the majors with CHC...Recorded pickoffs in five straight starts from 5/22-6/13, the longest pickoff streak in SD history and tied for the second-longest in ML history with four others...Made three starts with ELP to begin the season, going 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA (6 ER, 18.0 IP) and a .172 opponent average before having his contract selected by SD on 4/24...Became just the seventh opponent and 27th pitcher overall to make their big league debut as a starter at Coors Field on 4/24…only one other Padre did so (Anthony Bass on 6/13/11)...allowed a career-high seven runs (six earned) in 3.0 IP in SD's 8-0 defeat...Recorded his first ML victory in his third career start on 5/6 vs. LAD in Monterrey, Mexico, working 6.0 innings without allowing a run on seven hits…he became the first Padre pitcher to get his first career ML win in a game played outside the US and Canada. • After posting a 7.67 ERA from April-May through his first seven starts, he tallied a 2.76 mark in June (his next six starts) for a -4.91 ERA differential…his -4.91 ERA differential ranked first among all ML pitchers that tossed at least 25.0 IP from March-May and also at least 25.0 IP in June...Allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight consecutive starts from 6/2-7/10...his 2.33 ERA from 6/2-7/10 was the 10th-lowest mark among all ML starters, the sixth-lowest in the NL and second-lowest among all rookies...On 7/10 vs. LAD, was one out shy of becoming the first Padre rookie to throw a complete game shutout since Clay Hensley in 2006...he tossed 8.2 IP of four-hit ball, allowing one run behind a career-high 115 pitches and matching a career high with eight SO...Placed on the 10-day DL on 7/31 with a left forearm strain and missed the team's next 26 games before being reinstated on 8/30...Over his final five starts from 8/30-9/28, went 1-0 with a 1.07 ERA (3 ER, 25.1 IP) and a .174 opponent average...In his 10 starts vs NL West opponents, posted a 4-1 record with a 2.62 ERA (16 ER, 55.0 IP)...In his three starts vs. LAD, he went 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA (2 ER, 19.2 IP)…with his three straight wins vs. LAD, he became the first Padre rookie to win three straight starts against any single divisional opponent since Jimmy Jones vs. ATL in 1987 (ATL was in NL West at the time)...Did not factor into the decision in either of his two interleague starts (6/19 vs. OAK and 9/15 vs. TEX), despite posting a combined 1.64 ERA (2 ER, 11.0 IP)...Opponents hit .225 (25-for-111) against him with RISP and .189 (10-for-53) with RISP/2 out. ..Tossed at least 5.0 IP in 16 of his 23 starts, owning a 6-2 record, a 2.21 ERA (22 ER, 89.2 IP), .254 opponent average and 1.30 WHIP…when he tossed less than 5.0 IP, he went 0-5 with a 12.90 ERA (32 ER, 22.1 IP), a .394 opponent average and a 2.51 WHIP...When he received three-or-more runs of support (eight starts), he owned a 4-0 record with a 2.93 ERA (14 ER, 43.0 IP)...when he received two runs of support or fewer (15 starts), he went 2-7 with a 5.22 ERA (40 ER, 69.0 IP)...Relied on five pitches this season: four-seamer (59.3%), cutter (18.8%), curve (11.4%), slider (6.8%) and changeup (3.6%).
2017
Split the season between Lake Elsinore (A) and San Antonio (AA), posting a combined 6-8 record and a 3.30 ERA (45 ER, 122.2 IP)...Named a California League Mid-Season All-Star for Lake Elsinore...prior to the All-Star game, he owned a 2.15 ERA (15 ER, 62.2 IP)...Struck out a career-high 10 hitters on 6/20 vs. Rancho Cucamonga but was tagged with the loss in the Storm's 5-3 defeat...Promoted to San Antonio on 6/28 and made 10 appearances (nine starts), posting a 4-3 record with a 3.93 ERA (24 ER, 55.0 IP) with 48 SO against 17 BB...In his Double-A debut on 7/2, tossed a career-high 7.2-shutout innings and earned the win at Northwest Arkansas, striking out nine and walking none in the Missions' 1-0 victory...In his final five appearances (four starts) in August from 8/1-31, went 2-1 with a 1.00 ERA (3 ER, 27.0 IP) with 26 SO to nine BB and limited the opposition to a .181 average...Made his first career postseason performance with San Antonio on 9/9 at Midland in Game 4 of the Texas League semifinals...allowed seven hits and one run in 4.2 IP in the Missions' 6-3 defeat.
2016
Made two starts with the AZL Padres (R), seven with Tri-City (A) and one with Fort Wayne (A), owning a cumulative 2.03 ERA (7 ER, 31.0 IP) with 37 SO against nine BB...Named an Organization All-Star for San Diego by MiLB...In seven starts with Tri-City, had a 1.44 ERA (4 ER, 25.0 IP) with 28 strikeouts against seven BB.
