The Blue Jays and its fans finally got to see first hand what the anointed next one -- both in terms of Blue Jays and Canadian ball players -- could bring to the team. He was destined to join the big club earlier in the season only to have his hand broken by a pitch, delaying his inevitable and much anticipated debut.
Well, it was sure worth the wait to get a glimpse of what the future holds for the Jays and their prized possession. A hit in his first big league at bat, a 5-fo-11 series (.455 average), his first home run and a couple RBI to go with it. The adjustment was short and sweet at the plate. In the field he was a bit more raw, picking up his first error in his first game on a ball that ate him up, but he looked a bit more comfortable as the series went along. You can tell he will need quite a bit more work to refine his play at his pretty much new position, but as a 21-year old on a team which is now gearing towards next year, he can continue to work out the kinks the rest of the way.
I do not recall a Jays prospect in recent history who has garnered as much anticipation and hype as Lawrie has. He is genuinely a very talented player, but I am sure a lot also has to do with the fact he is Canadian and his career started (and hopefully lasts a long time) with Canada's team. Jays fans would love to have and root for their own Joey Votto. If this past weekend was any indication, this will certainly be the case. And he just might, over time, help put more butts in the seats at the SkyDome (I refuse to call it Rogers Centre).
Jays fans can show as such as he makes his home debut this Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics, who are in Toronto for a three-game set.
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