[MyDaily = Reporter Kim Kyung-hyun] "I really hate it"
Eric Lauer (Toronto Blue Jays) has found himself in a fortunate spot. Despite uneven results and blunt public comments, the club looks poised to keep giving him chances.
Lauer was selected 25th overall in the first round of the 2016 draft by the San Diego Padres. He made his major-league debut in 2018, was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2020, and spent most of his big-league career through 2023 working as a starter.
His career took a turn. After pitching in the minors in 2024, Lauer signed with the KIA Tigers in the KBO, going 2–2 with a 4.93 ERA in seven games — his first time playing in Asia.
The stint overseas appeared to pay off. In 2025 with Toronto, Lauer pitched in 28 games (15 starts), went 9–2 with one hold and posted a 3.18 ERA — a highly effective season capped by a 1.11 WHIP.
Still, tension surfaced over his role. Lauer shuffled between the rotation and the bullpen, and he made his preference clear in spring training: he wanted to start. He also argued that being used in relief contributed to losing his pre-season salary arbitration.
He aired those frustrations publicly during the season. On April 18 (Korean time) against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Lauer entered after the opener as a bulk reliever, throwing five innings and allowing three runs. He told Canada's TSN, "Honestly, I really hate it. I can't stand it. I hope this isn't something we keep doing. This exceeds my pay grade." The remarks were a sharp criticism directed at the front office and the manager.
The Jays Journal warned the comments could create clubhouse friction and potentially put Lauer at odds with manager John Schneider.
Critics pointed out that Lauer's on-field performance undercut his complaints. In seven appearances (six starts) he was 1–4 with a 6.03 ERA, and his stuff showed clear regression. Aside from an April 6 outing against the Chicago White Sox (2 innings, 2 runs), he allowed a home run in each of his other six appearances — his ERA as a starter sat at 6.15. The club had planned to send Lauer back to the bullpen if José Berríos — rehabbing from an elbow stress fracture — was ready to return.
But Berríos ran into new trouble. MLB.com reported on the 9th that doctors found inflammation and a small abnormality in the injured area — an unwelcome development.
Berríos' recent rehab starts were rough: five runs in four innings on April 29 and seven runs in 3⅔ innings on May 4, surrendering five homers across those two outings. MLB.com noted his average velocity sat just above 90 mph (about 144.8 km/h); while Berríos has never been a pure power pitcher, at his best he typically sat around 94 mph (about 151.3 km/h).
Manager John Schneider said, "His velocity dropped in the last two outings, and he felt a bit of pain after the most recent one. We had hoped the last start would serve as a bounce-back, but that didn't happen."
MLB.com reported that Berríos had been expected to take Lauer's spot in the next rotation turn, but for the time being it appears Lauer will remain in the rotation and get another opportunity.
Lauer is slated to start against the Los Angeles Angels on the 11th. He'll need a strong outing to solidify his spot — can he make the most of this hard-won chance?
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