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Eric Lance Lauer (born June 3, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres organization. He played college baseball for the Kent State Golden Flashes of Kent State University.
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Early life
Lauer was born and raised in Elyria, Ohio. He is a member of the National Honor Society, and he took college courses at Lorain County Community College while still in high school.
Career
Lauer attended Midview High School in Grafton, Ohio, and played for the high school baseball team as a pitcher and first baseman. He received attention from Major League Baseball (MLB) scouts as a result of his 94 miles per hour (151 km/h) fastball. He decided to commit to play college baseball for the University of Kentucky, but he rescinded the decision and committed to Kent State University. As a senior, Lauer pitched to a 7–0 win-loss record and a 0.15 earned run average (ERA), allowing one earned run in 47 innings pitched, while striking out 96 and allowing 12 hits and eight walks. The Cleveland Plain Dealer named Lauer their player of the year for 2013, and he was named Lorain County's Mr. Baseball.
The Toronto Blue Jays selected Lauer in the 17th round of the 2013 MLB draft. Lauer turned down a signing bonus in excess of $1 million to attend college. Playing for the Kent State Golden Flashes, Lauer had a 5–4 win-loss record, a 1.98 ERA, and 103 strikeouts in 2015, in his sophomore year. During the summer, Lauer pitched for the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod Baseball League. He finished his junior year with a 0.69 ERA, the lowest in college baseball since 1979. He won the National Pitcher of the Year Award.
The San Diego Padres selected Lauer in the first round, with the 25th overall selection, of the 2016 MLB draft. He signed with the Padres, receiving a $2 million signing bonus. Lauer made his professional debut with the Arizona Padres of the Rookie-level Arizona League, and received promotions to the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League and the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Class A Midwest League. He finished the 2016 season with a 1-1 record and 2.03 ERA. He also had 37 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched.