Jordan Lawlar on Reaching the World Series and More

The rookie shortstop has barely played, but that hasn't affected his experience of the playoffs and development

Jordan Lawlar is the Arizona Diamondbacks' top prospect and youngest player. The 21-year-old shortstop climbed three levels this season, starting off in Double-A before making his MLB debut on September 7th, against the Cubs. He got an infield hit in his first game, but would just collect three more hits the rest of the season. Still, while the D-backs have barely played him due to Geraldo Perdomo's performance and the belief the D-backs hold in only playing him at shortstop, he's still on the postseason and World Series roster for the D-backs serving as a late-inning defensive sub or pinch-runner.

Lawlar has gotten into two games so far this postseason and is 0-1 at the plate. He came in during the 8th inning of Game Two of the NLCS when the D-backs were blown out 10-0 and then during the NLDS Game 2 in the 9th inning as a pinch runner.

Lawlar, the Dallas native, remembers watching the Texas Rangers, Arizona's World Series opponent, play in the 2010-11 World Series and that it was "heartbreaking" although he grew up a Yankees fan. However, now, he's focused on "making really good memories, enjoy this time...Who can say they went to their first World Series in their hometown?"

As for the fact that Lawlar hasn't played much due to the talent on the D-backs roster, he shared how he is staying ready by saying "It's all a mindset. Control what you can control. Keep that same process that you did when you were playing everyday. That's all you can control." 

"You never know when your time comes, obviously Dave Roberts comes to mind. But yeah, always stay ready and be ready to get in there and steal a base or pinch-hit. You never know."

As for if he expected to be in the World Series when he started the year at Double-A, "it's the last place in the world I expected to be. It's pretty surreal, especially to be in the World Series."

"It's very surreal. It's unbelievable, but obviously, I've worked toward this moment and just to be able to be as lucky as we are in this situation... I can't wait to tell these stories."

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Jordan Lawlar will take on the Texas Rangers in Game 1 of the 2023 World Series Friday night at 5:03 p.m. AZ time. It's a seven-game series that the D-backs will look to win for the first time since that magical night on November 4, 2001.