Chicago Cubs Pick up Southpaw Ryan Lawlor
Published on July 3, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
NORMAL, Ill. - On the final day of Jose Canseco weekend, Manager Billy Horn got a call his has now received for the third time this season as the Chicago Cubs purchased the contract of Ryan Lawlor.
"It's a really good feeling, I thought that I deserved it putting the work that I did and that is the reason why I came here was to get picked up. I came here to play for Billy who has a great reputation for getting guys back into organizations. It's just a dream come true again to back where I think I belong, " said Lawlor when he found out the news before the series finale on Sunday.
Lawlor becomes the third CornBelter this season to be picked up by a major league club and second player this past week as Matt Portland signed with cross-town rival, Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. All three CornBelters that have had their contact purchased are left-handed and were part of the starting rotation. He will report to Single-A South Bend on Wednesday where he will join former Normal pitching coach Brian Lawrence.
The Savannah, Ga. native was signed on June 6 and only pitched in five games with three of them being starts. Despite having a 0-2 record, in Lawlor's both losses he only gave up two earned runs in each. In his last two starts, he combined for 19 strikeouts to bring his total to 31 in 20 innings of work compared to just five walks.
"We are very excited and happy for Ryan. He has a tremendous opportunity ahead of him and we wish him the best. We are so glad he and his agent put their trust in us to get him back to an organization. The Cubs sure picked a great arm and more importantly, a great kid," said Billy Horn.
Prior to his arrival in Normal, Lawlor was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the eighth round of the 2015 draft. Last season he spent time with the Rome Braves (Single-A) where he had a 3-1 record in 10 starts while striking out 61 in 47.1 innings and only 16 walks. Lawlor spent his first two years between both Rookie Ball and Class A-Advanced.
The former Georgia Bulldog was drafted during his Junior year after he posted a 5-7 record and 3.67 ERA in 14 appearances, all starts. Lawlor threw 73.2 innings with 84 strikeouts, both team-highs, and walked only 33. The 6-1, lefty also registered wins over No. 11 Florida State, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky that season. In his two-year Bulldog career, he went 9-13 with a 3.96 ERA in 28 games, all starts.
Frontier League Stories from July 3, 2018
- Grizzlies Roll to 12-3 Win - Gateway Grizzlies
- Landwehr and Bullpen Take Opener at Joliet - Normal CornBelters
- Gateway Blitzes ThunderBolts in 12-3 Loss - Windy City ThunderBolts
- 10 hits produce 0 runs in 5-0 loss to Otters - Lake Erie Crushers
- Boomers Draw 1,000,000th Fan in Nail-Biting Victory - Schaumburg Boomers
- Heyer Dominates as Miners Win Sixth Straight Game - Southern Illinois Miners
- Boomers Snap Rascals' Streak in Opener - River City Rascals
- Wynne's Shutout Guides Otters Past Crushers - Evansville Otters
- Slammers Sell out July Third - Joliet Slammers
- Beach Bums Fall in Series Opener vs. Southern Illinois - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Wild Things Drop Opener in Florence - Washington Wild Things
- Florence Takes Opener over First Place Washington - Florence Y'alls
- Chicago Cubs Pick up Southpaw Ryan Lawlor - Normal CornBelters
- Three Crushers Named to All-Star Game - Lake Erie Crushers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
