Woodstock-area native looks forward to his new role as L.A. Angels’ ‘Return to Performance Coordinator’
It’s a long drive from Grafton, New Brunswick, to Tempe, Arizona (AZ).
Brad Lawson will confirm to all of us that it’s a drive that entails twists and turns and requires a healthy reserve of determination.
Today, the Woodstock Minor Baseball product works out of Tempe, Arizona, as the Los Angeles Angels’ “Return to Performance Coordinator.”
Raised in Grafton, the 2001 graduate of Woodstock High School was a solid player in his own right. Often coached in minor baseball by his father, Guy, and Bruce McMillan, Lawson’s game, upon graduation, took him west to the Prairie Baseball Academy in Lethbridge, Alberta.
After two seasons in Lethbridge, Lawson transferred to UNB in the fall of 2004, continuing to play the game for the UNB baseball squad. Most importantly, while at UNB, Brad was heavily influenced by Ken Seaman, the strength and conditioning coach for the UNB hockey team, one of the top university hockey programs in the country. Working towards his kinesiology degree, Lawson volunteered his own time with the team and soaked up every chunk of advice Seaman shared.
“Ken was a great mentor, and with his knowledge and feedback, I realized I could make a career at this.” The Woodstock Slammers gave me my first real position as their Strength and Conditioning Coach from 2007 to ’09”, Lawson continues.
To complement his Bachelor of Kinesiology (the study of movement—kinesiologists use evidence-based research to treat and prevent injury and improve movement and performance), Brad attained his “Certified Strength Conditioning Specialist” certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
From there, Lawson saw opportunities through the NSCA’s job board.
“Jobs were mostly part-time (seasonal) so I was prepared to go almost anywhere. The Washington Nationals gave me my first break in 2009”.
That first internship with the Nationals organization led to another position in Harrisburg, PA, where Lawson met his future wife, Kristen.
More jobs followed in Florida stops as Lawson continued to gain valuable experience in part-time seasonal positions.
Did we mention determination?
“Then, in 2010, the Chicago Cubs gave me my first full-time job. I worked at A.A. in Tennessee and at AAA in Iowa for two full seasons.”
“In 2012 I joined the Giants as a Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coach. After four seasons as a minor league coach, I became their Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. In 2019, I was promoted to the Major League Baseball Strength and Conditioning coach position with the San Francisco Giants”.
Lawson had achieved his personal goal of making the Major Leagues. He was a San Francisco Giant.
“At the Major League level. a day began with a 1 p.m. strategy meeting, centred around injury updates, training and treatment schedules and any adjustments which were needed”, Lawson explains.
Individual pre-game attention to players and on-field warmup sessions were also part of the game day preparation.
During the course of a game, players both in and out of the lineup may require attention. After post-game treatments for players are complete, Lawson’s day ends at about 11 p.m.
He remained in that position for five seasons. A major league season consists of a 162-game schedule within a 180-day time frame.
In January ’24, another turn in the road presented itself to Lawson. After 12 seasons with the Giants, he became the Los Angeles Angels’ “Return to Performance Coordinator.”
Brad and Kristen have settled in Gilbert, AZ, with their children Layla, age 8, and Jax, age 3. Lawson is extremely thankful for the balanced home time the position offers.
In short, Lawson oversees the process involved in getting injured players back to the playing field.
“The job combines strength and conditioning with rehabilitation,” Lawson explains.
“A pitcher may be coming off of Tommy John surgery. He’s not playing for 15 months. We have to be sure he comes back healthier and better than ever. All Injuries are time sensitive because a player’s career is short. When he’s injured, he’s not playing”, Lawson states.
Eight months into his new role, Lawson relishes the opportunity ahead with the Angels. He sees Tempe as home for the foreseeable future.
Here in New Brunswick, four time zones away, Mom Judy and Dad Guy remain in Grafton, which Lawson also considers his home.
“I’ve been doing this for 16 years. I wanted to make a career in this field and built my resume by volunteering my time to different teams. I applied to jobs. You have to prepare to find jobs and I was determined. Anyone can do it”.
There’s that word again, one that defines Brad Lawson’s journey from Grafton and Connell Field to Major League Baseball.
Determination.
