San Diego Padres Announce Eric Lauer Will Make His Debut Tuesday

With an opening in their rotation, the San Diego Padres are set to call up Eric Lauer to make his MLB debut Tuesday in Colorado versus the Rockies.

As per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, the San Diego Padres are going to bring 22-year-old left-hander Eric Lauer up to the big club to make his MLB debut on Tuesday in Denver against the Colorado Rockies.

Lauer was a first-round draft pick of the Friars in 2016 out of Kent State University. A native of Grafton, OH (Midview HS ’13), Lauer has pitched to a 3.04 earned-run average in 171.2 MiLB innings.

After just three starts with Triple-A El Paso (2-1, 3.00 ERA), racking up nineteen strikeouts and allowing just six walks in 18 innings of work, AJ Preller, Andy Green, and the rest of the team’s decision-makers apparently believed the time was now to bring the young lefty up.

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Lauer’s journey to the Padres

Before appearing with the El Paso Chihuahuas this season, Lauer practically breezed his way through the Padres’ minor-league system.

During his professional career, he’s pitched to a 1.183 WHIP, with 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings, just 0.6 home runs allowed per nine, and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.17; all respectable-to-outstanding numbers.

Whether his 90-93 MPH heater, tight slider, and crisp, deceiving changeup translate into success at the major-league level is yet to be seen.

During major-league Spring Training this year, Lauer pitched very well.

Over 10.2 innings he had a 2.53 earned-run average, allowing ten hits and three earned runs, striking out ten and walking two.

Pads needed to fill the spot, Lauer was deemed ready

With Luis Perdomo being sent down to Triple-A, there was an opening in the rotation. The team could have gone with Jordan Lyles for a spot start, but it seems as if he’s really found his niche in the Friars’ bullpen.

Before the decision to let Lauer make his first start was made, AJ Preller had this to say to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune, “If guys check the boxes we’ve put in front of them, then we’ll make a decision.”

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Clearly, Eric Lauer’s boxes have been checked.