SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The crowd at chilly Salt River Fields had thinned out considerably by the time Justin Lawrence took the mound in the ninth inning Saturday. Those who stuck around witnessed a pitcher with a unique style, raw heat and a promising future.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander is on the fast track and bears watching during this spring training.
Lawrence, 24, pitches with an aggressive sidearm delivery that menaces right-handed batters. Saturday, his fastball reached 98 mph, waking up the sparse Cactus League crowd when the ball buried in the catcher’s mitt with an explosive pop.