Matt Lawton was a professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues for 12 seasons. He was born on November 3, 1971, in Gulfport, Mississippi, and grew up in the small town of McComb. Lawton attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College before being drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 13th round of the 1991 MLB draft.
Lawton made his Major League debut with the Twins in 1995 and quickly established himself as a solid outfielder with a strong arm and good speed. He was known for his ability to get on base, drawing walks and stealing bases. In 1998, Lawton had his best season with the Twins, hitting .305 with 21 home runs and 82 RBIs. He was named to the American League All-Star team that year and finished 14th in the MVP voting.
After six seasons with the Twins, Lawton was traded to the New York Mets in 2001. He played one season with the Mets before being traded to the Cleveland Indians in 2002. Lawton had a solid season with the Indians, hitting .267 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs. He also stole 21 bases, which was the second-highest total of his career.
In 2003, Lawton was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he played for two seasons. He had a strong season in 2004, hitting .277 with 20 home runs and 75 RBIs. Lawton was then traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2005, where he played for half a season before being traded to the New York Yankees.
Lawton's time with the Yankees was short-lived, as he was suspended for 10 games in August 2005 for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. He finished the season with a .254 batting average, 13 home runs, and 49 RBIs.
After his suspension, Lawton signed with the Seattle Mariners for the 2006 season. He played in 59 games for the Mariners, hitting .244 with four home runs and 23 RBIs. Lawton was released by the Mariners in August 2006 and did not play in the Major Leagues again.
In his 12-year career, Lawton had a .267 batting average, 138 home runs, and 634 RBIs. He also stole 164 bases and had a .368 on-base percentage. Lawton was known for his ability to get on base and his speed on the basepaths. He was a solid outfielder with a strong arm and good range.
Overall, Lawton had a successful career in the Major Leagues, playing for six different teams and earning one All-Star selection. While his career was marred by his suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, Lawton was a talented player who was respected by his teammates and opponents alike.
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