DALLAS — Major League Baseball scouts search coast to coast to find the best prospects. But to find the No. 1 ranked high school baseball player in the country, they’d have to visit Dallas, Texas. At Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, multiple scouts can be seen at every baseball game and practice to observe just one player: Jordan Lawlar.

What You Need To Know

  • Jordan Lawlar is the No. 1 high school baseball prospect in the country
  • Lawlar committed to play at Vanderbilt at 15 years old
  • He is a projected first round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft

“You can tell right away that he was going to be something special even as a 14-year-old,” said Jesuit Dallas head coach Brain Jones.

There are over 480,000 high school baseball players in the country. But Lawlar is widely considered the best in the class of 2021. The Jesuit Dallas phenom is an intimidating slugger, a defensive threat in the middle infield and a nightmare on the base paths.

“In my 25 years of coaching, he’s by far the fastest kid I’ve ever seen,” Jones said. “Just his athletic ability alone is off the charts."

Lawlar is a five-tool player, which is fitting because his baseball journey began at the age of five. 

“I’d like to say I’m always a kid playing baseball. I think that keeps the fun in it and keeps that spirit,” said Lawlar. “You’re playing a kid’s game after all. So that’s big for me. But really I’ve always felt like I’ve been a step ahead of everyone else."

He was recruited to play college ball before he got his driver’s license. At just 14 years old, Miami, Duke, TCU, and Michigan all came calling to land his talent. But Lawlar ultimately decided to commit to the Vanderbilt, a program that’s no stranger to championship baseball. The Commodores won the college world series in 2014 and 2019.

“Playing for one of the top teams in the nation is a big thing for me. I like to compete,” Lawlar said. “Their motto is that you rent the position, you don’t own it. They don’t care if you’re number one in the country. You still have to go out there and work for it.”

Lawlar’s drive and determination was transparent this time last year. As the coronavirus pandemic wiped out any chance of a junior season, he spent the entire lockdown period working out with his mom. 

“When she came home from work, we’d find a workout and get to it,” he said. “So that was fun working out with her. She’s raised me since I was young. I remember the days we’d go out in the backyard. She would put balls on the tee for me and I’d hit them into the net. It started young and she keeps being supportive."

The motherly support has helped Lawlar’s confidence blossom into playing in the big leagues, much like his idol at the shortstop position,Derek Jeter.

“I want to be like Jeter,” Lawlar said. “He’s a good baseball player and he’s also a good person on and off the field."

Jeter has obviously set the bar high for all major leaguers. But in the early stages of a young, promising baseball career, Lawlar is one to keep an eye on.