MILWAUKEE (AP) -The only thing left for Brett Lawrie was an opportunity to put on his first Milwaukee Brewers uniform.
The Brewers first-round pick in the 2008 player draft and 16th selection overall took his first cuts during batting practice before Milwaukee played the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.
The 18-year-old signed with the Brewers on Aug. 5, receiving a $1.7 million signing bonus. He is the highest drafted Canadian positional player in the history of the draft and just the sixth Canadian ever taken in the first round.
His inaugural trip to Miller Park was delayed when he joined Team Canada and headed to the Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Sporting No. 13 on his home uniform, Lawrie hit a number of pitches over the wall in left that reminded manager Ned Yost of reigning NL Rookie of the Year winner Ryan Braun.
“He’s got a very nice swing,” Yost said. “He’s a strong young man. He kind of reminds me of Braunie when he came in.”
His mother, Cheryl, father, Russell, sister and fellow Olympian, Danielle, and girlfriend, Shelby, watched from behind the Brewers dugout. Danielle Lawrie was on Team Canada’s softball team.
Lawrie will start at catcher when he reports to the instructional league in Arizona on Sept. 14. However, he is a multi-position player with experience at second, third and left field.
“We’re going to give him the opportunity to start with us behind the plate,” Brewers player personnel director Jack Zduriencik said.
Lawrie is confident about his future, too.
“I want to be up by the time I’m 20 years old,” he said.
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