Matt Lawton facts for kids

Matthew Lawton, Jr. (born November 30, 1971) is a former American professional baseball player. He played for 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Matt was an outfielder, meaning he played in the large grassy area of the baseball field.

He made his big league debut on September 5, 1995, with the Minnesota Twins. The Twins were the team that first signed him four years earlier. Matt also played for several other MLB teams. These included the New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, and Seattle Mariners.

During his time in Major League Baseball, Matt Lawton had a batting average of .267. He hit 138 home runs and had 631 runs batted in (RBIs). He was also chosen to be an All-Star twice, in 2000 and 2004. After the 2005 season, he received a suspension from MLB.

Matt Lawton's Early Baseball Days

Matt Lawton went to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Mississippi. He was a talented player there. In 1991, the Minnesota Twins picked him in the MLB draft. Five of his college teammates were also drafted that year. Matt is one of four players from his college to later play in Major League Baseball. In 2004, Matt gave $10,000 to his old college. This money helped build a covered batting cage and improve the baseball field.

Starting in the Minor Leagues

Matt Lawton officially signed with the Minnesota Twins in August 1991. He began his professional baseball journey in 1992. His first team was the Gulf Coast League Twins. This was a "rookie-league" team, which is the lowest level of Minor League Baseball.

He then played for other minor league teams. These included the Fort Wayne Wizards and the Fort Myers Miracle. In 1994, he was even named to the Florida State League All-Star Team. Playing in the minor leagues helped Matt get ready for the big leagues.

Matt Lawton's Major League Career

Playing for the Minnesota Twins (1995–2001)

Matt Lawton started the 1995 season in the minor leagues. But in September, the Minnesota Twins called him up to the big leagues. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut on September 5, 1995. This was against the Detroit Tigers.

His first MLB hit came the very next day. On September 28, he hit his first career home run against the Cleveland Indians. In his first taste of MLB, Matt batted .317. He played in the outfielder positions, including center field, right field, and left field.

In 1996, Matt split his time between the Twins and their minor league team, the Salt Lake Buzz. He worked hard to improve his game. By 1997, he earned a full-time spot on the Twins roster. That year, he played in 142 games.

The 1998 season was a strong one for Matt. He hit a grand slam against the New York Yankees in May. A grand slam is a home run hit when all three bases are loaded. This means four runs score! He finished the season with a .278 batting average. He also hit 21 home runs and had 77 RBIs.

In 1999, Matt faced a challenge when he was hit by a pitch. This caused an injury to his eye socket. He took some time to heal and played a few rehab games in the minor leagues. He returned to the Twins in July.

The year 2000 was a highlight for Matt. He was chosen to play in the 2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He even got a hit and an RBI in the game. At the end of the season, he had a .305 batting average. He also hit 44 doubles, which was among the best in the league. Because of his great performance, he was named the Minnesota Twins Player of the Year.

In 2001, Matt continued to play well for the Twins. He had a .293 batting average before a big change happened.

Joining the New York Mets (2001)

On July 31, 2001, the Minnesota Twins traded Matt Lawton. He went to the New York Mets. This was a big move for him. With the Mets, he shared playing time with other outfielders. He hit his first home run as a Met on August 5. Between both teams that year, Matt had 13 home runs and 64 RBIs.

Time with the Cleveland Indians (2002–2004)

Matt Lawton was traded again in the winter of 2001. He joined the Cleveland Indians. In April 2002, he hurt his right shoulder while diving for a ball. Even with the injury, he kept playing. In May, he hit a "walk-off" home run. This means his home run won the game for the Indians in the final inning.

He had some injuries during his time with the Indians. He even had surgery on his shoulder after the 2002 season. Despite these challenges, he kept working hard.

In 2003, Matt continued to play for the Indians. He had a few more injuries, including a jammed finger. He worked hard to recover and return to the field.

The 2004 season was another great one for Matt. He hit two home runs in a game against the Detroit Tigers in April. He was also selected to play in the 2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. This was his second All-Star appearance! He finished the season with 20 home runs and 70 RBIs. He also stole 23 bases.

Playing for Other Teams (2005–2006)

Matt Lawton moved to several teams in 2005. First, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in December 2004. He was expected to be their leadoff hitter, the first batter in the lineup. He hit a very long home run for the Pirates in May 2005.

Later in July 2005, the Pirates traded him to the Chicago Cubs. He was happy to join the Cubs, where he reunited with his friend and former teammate, Todd Walker. Matt played 19 games for the Cubs.

In August 2005, Matt was traded again, this time to the New York Yankees. The Yankees manager, Joe Torre, said Matt would add depth to their team. Matt hit his first Yankees home run in August.

Finally, Matt signed with the Seattle Mariners for the 2006 season. He played 11 games with the Mariners before his time with the team ended. This marked the end of his 12-season career in Major League Baseball.

Matt Lawton's Family Life

Matt Lawton was born in Gulfport, Mississippi. He is married to Cazesta. They have a daughter named Chassity, born in 1993, and a son named Chaseton, born in 2000. Matt's older brother, Marcus Lawton, also played in Major League Baseball. When his brother played for the New York Mets, Matt was a batboy for the team. He also has a younger brother named O. J.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders