Pirates Bullpen Relying On Lawrence For Middle Relief in 2026

Justin Anthony Lawrence has his career and life away from the ballpark together.

There’s a lot to like about Lawrence. In Pittsburgh’s clubhouse, the right-handed reliever is one of the quietest players. When speaking with the 31-year-old, looking forward to his sixth MLB season (second with the Pirates), he is careful with his words. He is both confident and humble. No rehearsed word salad from an agent’s handbook. Lawrence is easy to respect.

Claimed off waivers last March by Pittsburgh from the Colorado Rockies, the 17 appearances that Lawrence did turn in last season, albeit a small sample, gave the Pirates much to like. Limited to pitching due to elbow inflammation, Lawrence landed on the 60-day injured list. He did manage to record a 0.51 ERA during his brief sampling in 2025.

By today’s standards, the reported one-year, $1.225 contract agreed upon, thus avoiding salary arbitration, is a bargain for the Pirates. There’s not much mystery surrounding what Pittsburgh is expecting from Lawrence. Two appearances this Grapefruit League season, yielding two hits in two innings of work, and one run, is what Lawrence is supposed to produce. Holding the line, keeping a lead, and giving his teammates opportunities to bring runs across the plate is a good day for the Jacksonville, Florida native.

With 199 MLB games to his credit, the side-arm delivery Lawrence favors offers the Pirates’ bullpen corps something different to throw at opposing batters. For all the success he’s taken in while with the Rockies and Pirates, Lawrence still keeps his feet to the ground in understanding how fortunate he is to do what his does through baseball.

Although not unique to the profession, Lawrence survived seven minor league cities, prior to getting the call by the Rockies. Drafted in June 2015 by Colorado in the 12th round, after two seasons of college ball at two schools (Jacksonville University and Daytona State College), Lawrence is speaking proudly of the travels and teammates bonding that accompanied him during his journey to the major leagues.

“For me, it was something that I got pretty comfortable with quickly (moving around). It started when I left for college, then coming home, and repeating this twice. I went to two colleges in two years. Once you get drafted, your life gets separated into two segments – it's being home and being away,” Lawrence said at LECOM Park.

Preparing himself for where the next “away” will be, Lawrence tells being with the same organization for a decade, wondering at what level you, as a player, are assigned, brought great excitement to him.

“Baseball caught my parents a little off guard when I was first drafted. 10 days after the draft, I was off to Boise,” says Lawrence, who has pitched one full MLB season (2023) in his professional career. “They asked why I was leaving so soon. I told them that I was now their (Rockies) responsibility.”

To further impress Colorado with his loyalty and dedication to the organization, Lawrence explains why, early on in his career, he decided to relocate, full-time, to Scottsdale, Arizona, where he still lives. Getting to utilize the complex that the Rockies have (Salt River Fields at Talking Stick – 12 practice fields), and train with the big leaguers on a daily basis is where Lawrence says he learned a lot about being professional.

“It was a big life decision that I did for my career.”

The player and, to an extent, the person Lawrence has evolved into were steered by his having grown up in pro ball. The long road trips while playing at the lower levels in the minor leagues; the 15-and 16-hour bus trips with his teammates, this is where camaraderie was earned for Lawrence.

“You get to spend a lot of time with your teammates for 140 games a season. There were times when we would pack eight to 10 guys in a three-bedroom apartment when I was in the minors. This was before there was a housing stipend (since 2022, MLB requires teams to provide, free, furnished housing for minor leaguers),” Lawrence recalls.

Having made it through the minors is why Lawrence feels humbled every time he walks into a big league hotel. Getting to stay in some of the best hotels in some of the best cities as part of his job still marvels Lawrence.

“I’m going on parts of six seasons in the big leagues and still get that wow factor walking into these hotels.”

Healthy and looking forward to a successful Pirates season, Lawrence is one of those men in uniform that you stand up and cheer for. A dedicated family man who has his life priorities in proper perspective, here’s to a solid pitching season for Lawrence.