Brett Lawrie
A fiery and intense infielder who carried the hopes of a nation as the hometown star for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Canadian baseball player·Birthday: January 18·Millennials
Biography
Brett Lawrie's baseball journey was a rocket launch that captivated Canada. A prodigy from Langley, British Columbia, he was a first-round draft pick in 2008, his talent and competitive fire evident from his teenage years. His ascent to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011 was a storybook moment, making him the face of Canadian baseball for a new generation. Lawrie played with a trademark, uncontainable energy—diving for every ball, sprinting out every grounder, and celebrating with a passion that electrified crowds at Rogers Centre. His 2011 rookie season was a burst of brilliance, showcasing power at the plate and athleticism at third base. However, his all-out style came at a physical cost; a series of oblique strains, ankle injuries, and other ailments repeatedly sidelined him. Traded to Oakland in 2014, he later had stints with the Chicago White Sox, but he could never fully recapture the sustained impact of his early days. His career, though shortened, remains a significant chapter in Canadian sports, defined by a thrilling, if fleeting, peak that made him a national icon.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Brett was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brett Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Brett's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the highest-drafted position player from Canada when selected 16th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2008 MLB draft.
- Made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011, hitting a home run in his first home game at Rogers Centre.
- Won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2011 Baseball World Cup.
- Recorded a 5-hit game for the Oakland Athletics in 2015, tying a franchise record.
Did You Know?
He represented Canada in international competition while still a teenager.
Lawrie's sister, Danielle, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in softball for Canada.
He was traded from Milwaukee to Toronto for pitcher Shaun Marcum in a deal that was highly anticipated by Canadian fans.
After his MLB career, he played professionally in New Zealand for the Auckland Tuatara.
“I played the game with my hair on fire every single day.”
