He is throwing better than he did while in Korea. Eric Lauer (30, Toronto Blue Jays), a left-handed pitcher who was disappointing last year with the KBO League's KIA Tigers compared to his reputation, is on the verge of establishing himself as a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.
On the 19th (Korean time), Lauer made a starting appearance in a home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2025 Major League Baseball season at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, pitching 5 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 walk, striking out 8, and allowing 1 run, contributing to Toronto's 8-1 victory. He secured his 3rd win of the season (1 loss) and lowered his earned run average from 2.37 to 2.29.
Against the challenging Arizona lineup, he did not allow a single run until the 5th inning. In the 4th inning with 1 out and runners on first and second, Lauer struck out Randal Grichuk on a foul tip and managed to get Geraldo Perdomo to fly out to right field, successfully navigating the crisis before leaving the game after allowing a right-field triple to leading hitter Corbin Carroll in the 6th inning. The next pitcher, Yariell Rodriguez, allowed the inherited runner to score, marking 1 run against Lauer.
He threw a total of 75 pitches, reaching a top speed of 93.8 mph (151.0 km/h) and averaging 92.2 mph (148.4 km/h), with 38 four-seam fastballs, 19 cutters, 8 curves, 6 changeups, and 4 sliders. He recorded 6 swings and misses on four-seam fastballs, showcasing his power.
"MLB.com" noted that "Toronto filled the gap left by the injured Max Scherzer in various ways. The best answer has been Lauer. He stepped up in a surprising performance at a time when Toronto needed it. With Scherzer expected to return on the 25th against the Cleveland Guardians, Lauer has shown he deserves to stay in the rotation. There's even a possibility he could fully join the starting rotation.” Even if Scherzer returns, current starter Boden Francis, with 2 wins and 8 losses and an earned run average of 6.05 over 14 games (64 innings), has been struggling, indicating Lauer could continue to pitch as the 5th starter.
Lauer, who signed a minor league contract with Toronto last December and started the season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, received a call-up to Major League Baseball on the 1st of last month. He got the opportunity after Scherzer was sidelined with injuries to his latissimus dorsi and thumb, and the substitute starter, Eastern Lucas, struggled.
Having been assigned the role of "bulk guy" to pitch long innings as the next pitcher, Lauer has continued to increase his importance by also receiving opportunities as a substitute starter. By the time of his first victory as a starter, he had pitched in 10 games (4 starts, 35⅓ innings) with a record of 3 wins and 1 loss and an earned run average of 2.29, exceeding expectations. In his 4 starts (16⅔ innings), he demonstrated competitiveness with a record of 1 win and 1 loss and an earned run average of 3.78, striking out 19.
Lauer expressed a desire to pitch as a starter within a stable routine. He said, "Consistency and rhythm are important for hitters, pitchers, and fielders alike. I want to continue pitching as a starter. Since the 5th starter spot isn't secured yet, I'll strive to earn that spot every time," citing command of his fastball as the key to his success this season.
"I can vary my timing, both fast and slow. Using inside, outside, and up and down is my pitching style. I’m not a pitcher who overpowers hitters. While I'm not a power pitcher, I can make my fastball more effective based on the way I throw it," said Lauer.
Debuting with the San Diego Padres in 2017, Lauer has recorded a total of 36 wins over 6 seasons in Major League Baseball through 2023, making a respectable impact as a starter. In 2022, while with the Milwaukee Brewers, he had a career-high season with 11 wins and 7 losses in 29 games (158⅔ innings), with an earned run average of 3.69 and 157 strikeouts. However, after experiencing shoulder impingement syndrome in 2023, his performance deteriorated sharply, and he spent the previous year in the minor leagues before moving to Korea in August.
He was highly anticipated as KIA's substitute foreign pitcher but left a disappointing performance with a record of 2 wins and 2 losses and an earned run average of 4.93 over 7 games (34⅔ innings), striking out 37. He contributed to KIA's overall championship with a performance of 5 innings, allowing 7 hits (2 home runs), no walks, 8 strikeouts, and 2 runs in the 3rd game of the Korean Series, but failed to secure a re-signing. Instead, KIA acquired right-handed pitcher Adam Oller. When leaving Korea, his future seemed uncertain, but within half a year, he is now posting a sub-2.00 earned run average in Major League Baseball. Such is the unpredictability of baseball.
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