The next big thing on the baseball diamond?
Trey Lawrence had been to the Jackie Robinson Training Complex, formerly known as Dodgertown, in Vero Beach for training in the past, so receiving training and tips from former major league players was not new.
During his third trip for the 2022 “Breakthrough Series” Lawrence could be more specific when honing his baseball skills.
The rising junior at Palmetto High, Lawrence focused on base running and pitching mechanics from June 7 to 9 at the diversity-focused amateur baseball development experience.
Among 80 high school athletes from around the country and the only one from the area, Lawrence received base-running instruction from Marquis Grissom and pitching tips from Marvin Freeman.
“It was great,” Lawrence said.
While staying in the dorms at the complex, Lawrence would get up between 5:30 and 6 a.m., practice, play a game, have lunch and practice again.
At the end of the day, a guest speaker — in this case Morehouse College head baseball coach Antonio Grissom, former Vanderbilt College World Series Champion Ro Coleman and amateur scout Carlos Munoz — would talk to the players.
“They talked about different career options and different paths people take,” Lawrence said. “Those keep my eyes open for different options and things I would want to do after I take off my uniform.”
Although his career is in its infancy, there has been plenty of interest in Lawrence.
Tigers coach Nolan Lofgren said nearly every ACC and SEC team has reached out with Florida State, Miami, Duke all visiting Palmetto High to see him this year.
Last weekend, he played for the Pro Youth Foundation team, an organization run by his father Chip Lawrence, a former minor league player, in the Perfect Game Tournament.
“He needs to play in Perfect Game Tournaments,” Lofgren said. “When he gets out there he will stand out.”
Lawrence took over at shortstop for Palmetto High one game this season and never relinquished the position, unseating a senior heading to college to play.
“His glove his special,” Lofgren said. “He made some plays that were just jaw-dropping.”
Lawrence also pitched 10 innings with 12 strikeouts. He went 2-0 with a 2.80 earned run average in seven appearances.
Lofgren received a report that Lawrence reached 87 miles per hour at the Breakthrough camp.
“I like to pitch,” Lawrence said.
He knows shortstop is where his bread will be buttered.
“Shortstop is my better position,” Lawrence said. “I had a good year defensively.”
He hit ninth for the Tigers and batted .183 with eight runs scored and six runs batted in.
“Pretty good high school season,” Lawrence said. “This season developed me. I made a lot of improvements. It was a building season for me.”
More building began this week in the weight room. Under the direction of Palmetto running backs coach Les Hewitt, Lawrence worked to put muscle on his 6-foot-3, 165-pound frame and add foot quickness.
“We need to get him to a 6.8 60(-yard dash) would be a realistic goal,” Lofgren said. “He’s at least a half-second off that right now. He knocked three-quarters of a second off his 60 last summer. Hopefully this summer will be even more.”
“I have average speed, which is not really that good,” Lawrence said. “I just want to get faster. Not necessarily a base-stealing threat, just be above average.”
A straight-A student who carries a 4.0 grade-point average, according to Lofgren, Lawrence could develop as one of the top players in the area, if not the state, during the next two years.
““Fantastic kid. Will do anything you ask of him,” Lofgren said. “If he puts on some muscle, If we can get him to 185, this kid will be a high draft choice.”
Dennis Maffezzoli is the deputy sports editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and chief reporter for Sarasota Herald-Tribune and HTpreps covering Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. Support local journalism by subscribing.
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: The next big thing on the baseball diamond?
