February 14th is not just Valentine’s Day, but it marks the start of D1 NCAA college baseball. You can’t get any more romantic than that.

Florida is the place to be this time of year, and Toronto-raised Brendan Lawson will reap the benefits of playing for the D1 University of Florida Gators. Lawson is a freshman at the school and is fighting toward being the starting first baseman for the SEC squad.

The Canadian infielder was in the graduating class of 2024, ranking as the top Canadian high school prospect in all aspects. He was a 2023 All-American Classic Player and ranked number one in the Province of Ontario.

Perfect Game Baseball also had him ranked 57th overall nationally and 14th ranked at shortstop while competing with P27 Academy in South Carolina. Lawson was drafted in the 19th round of the 2024 MLB draft, where he elected to honour his college commitment instead of turning pro.

The Gators have a projected starting alignment on paper heading into today’s game and this projection includes the Canadian infielder. The lineup shows three returning juniors, one junior transfer, a sophomore transfer, three seniors, and Lawson being the lone-wolf freshman.

Lawson was expected to compete for the left side of the infield heading in, at third base and shortstop. His 6-foot-3 strong-athletic frame squares him up to hold the right-side hot corner; he projects well defensively at first base, keeping his important bat in the lineup.

The left-handed hitter offers a strong bat with a good contact approach, the ability to reach base with the bat and good pitch recognition. Being a freshman, Lawson may slot in the middle to the end of the lineup, possibly working his way up throughout the season if he swings a hot bat.

The infielder played in the MLB draft league in 2024 where his showcase was impeccable. He slashed a .344/.533/.375 line and collected one double, one RBI, and a .908 OPS through ten games.

Yes, Lawson is a freshman and has quite the journey to maneuver in Division One baseball.  The mere fact that a Canadian freshman potentially starts for the 10th-ranked NCAA program is beyond golden for the future of this prospect.

His development and repetitions in a top-tier college baseball program will be fulfilled early on, allowing him to gain the experience of elite at-bats, and record early statistics.

Whether he shows a slow, poor start or a breakout freshman showout, this will benefit the rest of his college career towards his junior draft year. A generic freshman statistical compilation will set him up for progression in his statistics as the years move forward.

Scouts and evaluators will get an early look at the Canadian freshman, getting a better idea of his profile and abilities. His 19th-round pick in 2024 can be revived with a better stock in 2027 if all goes accordingly.

The Torontonian has big shoes to fill in the Gators lineup. Lawson replaces a stellar two-way Florida talent, Jac Caglianone. Caglianone played first base for the Gators when he was not on the mound. The two-way prospect finished 2024 with an average of .419 with 104 hits, 72 RBIs, 35 home runs, 58 walks, 26 strikeouts, a .875 slugging percentage, and a .544 on-base percentage.

These striking numbers increased the stock of Caglianone, sticking him as a first-round MLB draft pick in 2024 by the Kansas City Royals, sixth overall. He signed for $7.5 million, over his slot value.

Whether Lawson starts off the bat or ends up in the starting role eventually, his start-up with the Gators will be extremely important to the rest of his stint in college ball. The Gators face Air Force to start off the 2025 season.