Shushkewich: Lawson studying first base and political theory with Florida Gators

Former Ontario Blue Jays INF Brendan Lawson (Toronto, Ont.) was a first-year force with the Florida Gators

October 16, 2025

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Balancing academic commitments and time on the diamond is a constant struggle for college players.

Brendan Lawson is no stranger to this balancing act, fresh off completing his freshman campaign at the University of Florida.

Whether Lawson (Toronto, Ont.) is working on his footwork at first base or hitting the books, he is always moving – so much so that the phone interview for this article had to be postponed because of a late-night exam that Lawson had to prepare for.

“It was political theory, a class I really enjoy but could do without the late exams,” said Lawson.

Joining the Gators was a decision Lawson made in 2022 when was suiting up for the Ontario Blue Jays. He was a prominent name on the circuit north of the border during his high school days, with the likes of Perfect Game and MLB Pipeline ranking him high on their respective prospect/draft boards.

Lawson was also a well-known figure on the Junior National Team under Greg Hamilton, which helped boost his draft stock and helped him become a better player on the field. Joining a prominent program in the SEC is high on many high schoolers’ wish list, and for Lawson, it was a commitment that the infielder had to see in person before signing on the proverbial dotted line.

“There are a lot of decisions and emotions that come with committing to a post-secondary program,” said Lawson. “When Florida showed interest, I was a bit hesitant at first because of how far away it is from Canada and being apart from family and friends for so long. However, the coaching staff really wanted me to come down and see the facilities and meet the staff, and I was hooked after that.

“I got down there and met everyone – Kevin O’Sullivan (head coach), Chuck (Jeroloman), and the rest – and they were awesome. They were outgoing and easy to get along with, and I could tell they wanted what was best for me. I could tell they had put together a winning culture, team, and mindset, and they work hard every day. On top of that, the academics here (Florida) are top-notch, and getting a degree and something I can carry with me forever was a top priority for me as well.”

Before Lawson stepped foot on campus as a student, there was some headwind towards the Ontario product potentially turning pro instead of heading to Gainesville. He had taken his talents to P27 down in South Carolina for his senior year, looking to get exposure south of the border while continuing to hone his skills. He also suited up in the MLB Draft League (.344/.533/.375 slash line through 32 at-bats with one double) and was invited to the 2024 MLB Draft Combine, where he was able to showcase his abilities on both sides of the ball in front of the eyes of pro scouts.

It was a busy year for the highly-ranked Canuck, and one that was met with some adversity on and off the field. When the dust settled, the St. Louis Cardinals had selected Lawson in the 19th round, but the roar of the Gators’ Condron Ballpark in Gainesville, Fla. was too difficult to ignore.

“I had a weird senior year, getting sick (a sinus infection that required surgery) and missing time on the field; there was a lot of uncertainty heading into the draft, because I had missed so much time even with the Draft League at-bats mixed in,” said Lawson. “Overall, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go and develop my skills in the SEC while also getting a quality education. It was the right decision for me, and I am happy with where things are heading.”

The Gators program was coming off a 36-30 season that saw the 2017 World Series champs reach the Regional Tournament in Stillwater, headlined by Jac Caglianone (first round, sixth overall) and Brandon Neely (third round, 86th overall).

There was turnover in the lineup because of the transfer portal, drafted players departing the program, and graduating players onto new adventures. However, it’s tough for any freshman to break the roster within the SEC; it’s the nature of the beast that comes with playing D1.

Lawson was one of the exciting new faces on campus, but there was a lot of work put in through the fall and the spring before the 2025 season rolled around. This was new territory for the Canuck, and he ended up finding his way onto the Opening Day roster and becoming a focal point of the Gators’ lineup the rest of the way.

“There was a pretty big buildup from the fall and through early spring,” said Lawson, speaking about his Opening Day nod. “There was a ton of anticipation on my end, stepping onto the field for the first time. I did a 360 and just said to myself, ‘Wow, this is awesome – this is where I wanted and am meant to be’.

“I kept telling myself to just go out there and have fun and be competitive, to try and take that pressure off. I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I might be, and I credit the coaching staff for allowing me to play freely and let me do my thing.”

Not only was Lawson playing college ball right out of the gate, but he was doing so at a new position. A middle infielder by trade growing up, the Gators coaching staff had Lawson repping first base to start the year.

“I wasn’t really aware that first base was in my future, mostly because I was working out at the shortstop spot all fall,” explained Lawson. “At my exit meeting, the coaching staff brought up the possibility of playing first, and I was totally on board. I thought it was one way to get my name in the lineup, and I wanted to be as open-minded as possible. They sent me home with a first base glove and all spring I worked with Chuck to learn the position – footwork around the bag, making pick plays – a new position for me, but again, I was open for it all the way.”

Like that scene out of Moneyball with Scott Hatteberg (“tell ‘em Wash” Ron Washington), Lawson took the opportunity and ran with it. Ask any Gators fan, and they’ll be happy that the coaching staff considered him for the role.

Across 60 games this past year, Lawson slashed .317/.417/.522 with 14 doubles, one triple, and 10 home runs with 61 RBIs mixed in. Donning No. 11, the left-handed bat posted a .939 OPS and led the team in walks (33) while finishing second on the team in RBIs and multi-RBI games (15). He would complete the year on Baseball America’s First Team Freshman All-American list, 2025 SEC All-Freshman Team, and on Second Team Freshman All-American for both D1Baseball and Perfect Game.

While he went 0-for-6 through his first two games against Air Force, he put two hits on the board in the third game to get the ‘first hit jitters’ out of the way.

“I was hitting the ball hard but not getting any of them to drop in,” explained Lawson. “That Friday night game against Air Force, I hit a hard line drive to centre field that hung up enough to find a glove. I wanted to get the pressure off and get rolling. My first hit the following day wasn’t the prettiest (an infield hit to second base), but I was able to breathe a sigh of relief and get that out of the way.”

His first round-tripper would come a week later, with the Gators facing Dayton on their home turf. While some players might hit a solo wall-scrapper to mark their first home run at the college level, Lawson was presented with a bases-loaded opportunity and took hold of the moment to set off the home crowd.

“That first home run will be a memory I will never forget,” said Lawson. “Not only was it my first home run with the Gators, but to do it via the grand slam makes it all the more special. I don’t remember too much from the moment, because of the intense high that came with hitting such a home run. I hit it on a line and didn’t think it was out at first – I just put my head down and was sprinting around first base, and when I heard the crowd going wild, then I knew it had left the yard.”

Lawson, who had a stint in the Cape Cod League with the Brewster Whitecaps, is looking ahead to the new season and what the Gators can accomplish on the field. The 2025 squad once again qualified for the College World Series regional circuit but was unable to advance further, similar to the 2024 team.

Baseball America recently ranked Lawson as the No. 1 prospect for the next year’s draft following his stellar freshman campaign. Despite the accolades and attention he is getting from the prospect boards, the infielder has his sights set on competing with the Gators and advancing to Omaha, as well as the next political theory exam.

“Going into this year as a sophomore, I want to take on more of a leadership role on the team,” said Lawson. “I am a bit older now and more experienced, especially since we have some newer players on the team this upcoming season. I want to keep working throughout the fall and winter and do whatever I can to help our team get to Omaha next spring.”