Eric Lauer Bio
Eric Lance Lauer is an American professional baseball pitcher currently in Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on June 3, 1995, in Elyria, Ohio, Lauer first entered the major leagues in 2018 and has built a career that spans MLB organizations and a championship season in South Korea. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers, having been acquired in May 2026 after a stretch with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Across his professional career, Lauer has pitched for the San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Kia Tigers of the KBO League, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He won the 2024 Korean Series with Kia and has been a reliable left-handed starting pitcher at the major league level.
Early Life and Background
Eric Lance Lauer was born and raised in Elyria, Ohio, a working-class city in northern Ohio near Cleveland. He attended Midview High School in nearby Grafton, Ohio, where he pitched for the school baseball team and also played first base. Lauer was a member of the National Honor Society and took college courses at Lorain County Community College while still in high school, showing an early commitment to academics alongside athletics.
As a senior at Midview, Lauer posted a 7–0 record with a 0.15 earned run average (ERA), striking out 96 batters in 47 innings while allowing only 12 hits and eight walks. His fastball touched 94 miles per hour, drawing the attention of MLB scouts. The Cleveland Plain Dealer named him its 2013 player of the year, and he was also named Lorain County’s Mr. Baseball.
Despite his profile, Lauer initially faced mixed early draft interest. The Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 17th round of the 2013 MLB draft, but he turned down a signing bonus reported to be in excess of $1 million to honor his college commitment.
Path to Baseball
Lauer originally committed to play college baseball at the University of Kentucky before changing course and committing to Kent State University. At Kent State, he became one of the most decorated pitchers in program history, starring for the Kent State Golden Flashes of the Mid-American Conference.
During his sophomore year in 2015, Lauer went 5–4 with a 1.98 ERA and 103 strikeouts. He spent that summer pitching for the Orleans Firebirds in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League, where he was named a league all-star. As a junior, he finished with a 0.69 ERA, the lowest in college baseball since 1979, and earned both the National Pitcher of the Year Award and the Mid-American Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Year Award.
Eric Lauer Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
The San Diego Padres selected Lauer in the first round, 25th overall, of the 2016 MLB draft. He signed with the club and received a $2 million signing bonus. Lauer made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona Padres before receiving quick promotions to the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Northwest League and the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Midwest League. He finished 2016 with a 1–1 record and a 2.03 ERA in limited innings.
In 2017, Lauer opened the year with the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm, going 2–5 with a 2.79 ERA and 84 strikeouts across 67⅔ innings. He earned a midseason promotion to the Double-A San Antonio Missions, where he posted a 4–3 record and 3.93 ERA in 10 appearances. The Padres assigned him to Triple-A El Paso to begin 2018.
San Diego Padres Debut (2018–2019)
Lauer was promoted to the major leagues on April 24, 2018, and debuted the same day against the Colorado Rockies, pitching three innings. He went on to make 23 starts for the Padres, finishing 6–7 with a 4.34 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 112 innings. Lauer led the major leagues in pickoffs that season with 10, while allowing only five stolen bases.
On November 27, 2019, the Padres traded Lauer and infielder Luis Urías to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Trent Grisham, Zach Davies, and cash considerations, ending his time in the San Diego organization.
Milwaukee Brewers Years (2020–2023)
Lauer’s Brewers tenure opened in 2020 under difficult circumstances, as he was briefly placed on the injured list after close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19. He battled a shoulder injury that season, posting a 13.09 ERA in limited action. He bounced back in 2021, finishing with a 3.19 ERA in 20 starts, and also hit his first career home run on May 26, 2021, a solo shot off Chris Paddack of the Padres.
The 2022 campaign was his strongest in Milwaukee, as Lauer made 29 starts and went 11–7 with a 3.69 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 158⅔ innings. He agreed to a one-year, $5.075 million contract for 2023 to avoid salary arbitration, but struggled to a 4–6 record and 6.56 ERA in 10 games. After the season, the Brewers removed him from the 40-man roster, and Lauer elected free agency in October 2023.
Minor League Detour and Kia Tigers (2024)
In March 2024, Lauer signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He pitched for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians before exercising an opt-out clause in May and being released. Days later, he signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros and pitched for the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. After being released in early August, Lauer pursued an opportunity overseas.
On August 1, 2024, Lauer signed with the Kia Tigers of the KBO League in South Korea. He made his KBO debut on August 11, 2024, and went 2–2 with a 4.93 ERA and 37 strikeouts in seven starts. The Tigers won the 2024 Korean Series title with Lauer on the roster, and he became a free agent when Kia non-tendered him in late November 2024.
Toronto Blue Jays Era (2025–2026)
Lauer signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays in December 2024 and opened 2025 with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. The Blue Jays selected his contract on April 30, 2025, adding him to the major league roster. He rewarded the team with a 9–2 record and 3.18 ERA during the regular season, and he contributed 8⅔ innings during Toronto’s run to the 2025 World Series, including 4⅔ innings in an 18-inning World Series Game 3.
Heading into 2026, Lauer went through salary arbitration with the Blue Jays, where an arbiter chose Toronto’s $4.4 million figure over his $5.75 million request. The Blue Jays often used Lauer in a bulk role after an opener, a usage pattern he publicly disliked. After struggling to a 6.69 ERA in 36⅓ innings, Toronto designated him for assignment on May 11, 2026.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2026–Present)
On May 17, 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Lauer from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations and a player to be named later, reuniting him with a contending National League club. He joined a deep Dodgers pitching staff looking for left-handed depth and reliable innings in middle and long relief roles.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lauer is a left-handed pitcher known for his ability to generate ground balls and limit hard contact. He has experience working as a traditional starter and in a bulk role following an opener, giving managers flexibility in how they deploy him. Throughout his career, he has shown command of the strike zone and the poise to navigate deep innings when given the opportunity.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Lauer’s career came during the 2025 World Series, when he logged 4⅔ innings in an 18-inning Game 3, a postseason classic. He also became a Korean Series champion in 2024 with the Kia Tigers, an international title that expanded his professional resume. He led the major leagues in pickoffs during his 2018 rookie season with the Padres.
Eric Lauer Career Wins
Eric Lance Lauer has recorded professional wins across the major leagues, the KBO League, and multiple levels of the minor leagues. His most consistent stretch came in 2022 with the Brewers, when he won 11 games and struck out 157 batters over 158⅔ innings.
MLB Highlights
Lauer has won major league games with the San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Dodgers. His 2025 season with the Blue Jays was a highlight, as he went 9–2 with a 3.18 ERA in the regular season and helped Toronto reach the World Series. He has also contributed in relief during postseason play.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his MLB victories, Lauer earned wins during his 2024 KBO stint with the Kia Tigers, helping the club capture the Korean Series title. He has also recorded wins at every minor league level, including the Arizona League, California League, Texas League, Pacific Coast League, and International League.
Eric Lauer Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Lauer was raised in Elyria, Ohio, where his family supported his baseball development from an early age. He grew up as a fan of the Cleveland Indians and developed his pitching skills in the local youth and high school circuits before reaching the major leagues.
Personal Life
Eric Lauer is married to his wife, Emily. The couple has a son, and Lauer has spoken about balancing the demands of a professional baseball career with family life.
2025 Season Performance
Lauer’s 2025 season marked a return to the major leagues after his year in the KBO. After opening the year in Triple-A Buffalo, he joined the Blue Jays in late April and produced a 9–2 record with a 3.19 ERA in the regular season, becoming a dependable arm in Toronto’s starting rotation and bulk relief roles.
He continued to perform in the postseason, logging 8⅔ innings during Toronto’s 2025 World Series run, including a 4⅔-inning outing in the historic 18-inning Game 3. The performance cemented his reputation as a reliable postseason arm and gave him leverage in salary arbitration discussions that winter.
Entering 2026, Lauer’s role shifted as Toronto deployed him primarily after openers, a usage he openly disliked. His performance dipped early in the season, and the Blue Jays designated him for assignment in mid-May 2026, leading to his trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers. His 2026 outlook now centers on carving out a fresh role in a deep Dodgers pitching staff.
