# Derek Law
**Derek Law** (Derek Robert Law, born 1990 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American professional baseball right-handed relief pitcher who has appeared in [Major League Baseball](https://www.edgepedia.org/major-league-baseball) for seven teams, most recently the [Arizona Diamondbacks](https://www.edgepedia.org/arizona-diamondbacks) organization. He debuted with the [San Francisco Giants](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-francisco-giants) on April 15, 2016, and has since pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and Washington Nationals.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882) • [2](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lawde01.shtml)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / physical | 1990, Pittsburgh, PA; right-handed pitcher, 6'3", 225 lb; nickname "Lawdog"[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882) |
| Draft | Texas Rangers, 28th round, 2009 (did not sign); San Francisco Giants, 9th round (297th overall), 2011, from Miami Dade College[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882) • [2](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lawde01.shtml) |
| MLB debut | April 15, 2016, with the Giants, at age 25[2](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lawde01.shtml) |
| Best MLB seasons | 2016 rookie: 2.13 ERA in 61 games; 2024: 2.60 ERA with career highs of 75 games, 90 innings, 76 strikeouts, 17 holds, and 7 wins[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882) |
| Career totals (through 2026) | 329 games, 23-18 record, 3.63 ERA, 355.0 innings, 321 strikeouts, 1.36 WHIP[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882) |
| Teams | San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks[2](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lawde01.shtml) |
| Notable injury | Tommy John surgery in June 2014, which cost him the rest of that season and most of 2015[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882) |
## Early life and draft
Law grew up in Pittsburgh, where his father, Joe Law, shaped his development. Joe pitched nine seasons in the Athletics' organization with a 64-49 career record and spent four days on Oakland's active MLB roster in 1988 without appearing in a game; he built a pitching mound in the family's backyard where Derek began learning to pitch.[3](https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB%20Media%20Guides/Archives/2020%20Media%20Guides/2020%20Texas%20Rangers%20Media%20Guide.pdf) • [4](https://www.mlb.com/news/bernie-pleskoff-derek-law-has-ability-to-thrive-as-member-of-giants-bullpen/c-66516130) As a high school junior at Seton LaSalle Catholic High School, Derek went 8-0 and was the only junior named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette All-Area team in 2008.[5](https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Derek_Law)
The Rangers drafted him in the 28th round of the 2009 draft out of high school, but he did not sign and attended junior college.[3](https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB%20Media%20Guides/Archives/2020%20Media%20Guides/2020%20Texas%20Rangers%20Media%20Guide.pdf) After going 8-5 with a 2.35 ERA and 121 strikeouts against 16 walks in 92 innings at [Miami Dade College](https://www.edgepedia.org/miami-dade-college), the Giants selected him in the 9th round of the 2011 draft.[5](https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Derek_Law) Scouts noted that his unconventional, non-textbook delivery helped explain why a power arm slipped in both drafts.[6](https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/6201-derek-law/)
## Minor leagues and Tommy John surgery
Law moved steadily through the Giants' system. In 2013 he combined to go 5-4 with a 2.50 ERA in 46 appearances across three levels, with a 102-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and was a perfect 11-for-11 in save chances with Class A Advanced San Jose; he then threw 12.1 scoreless innings for the Scottsdale Scorpions and was named to the Arizona Fall League Top Prospects list.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882)
In 2014, assigned to Double-A Richmond, he posted a 2.57 ERA and converted 13 of 14 save opportunities while leading the Eastern League in saves. An elbow injury in early June, first diagnosed as forearm tightness, turned out to require [Tommy John](https://www.edgepedia.org/tommy-john) surgery, ending his season.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882) He returned in 2015 with 28 games at Richmond and 13 saves.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882)
## Major league career
**San Francisco Giants.** Recalled on April 15, 2016, Law made his debut at Los Angeles-NL, striking out Adrian Gonzalez, and his fastball topped 96 mph. He finished his rookie season with a 2.13 ERA in 61 games, the sixth-lowest figure among [National League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-league) relievers, along with a 0.96 WHIP and 1.47 walks per nine innings.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882) He spent most of 2017 and 2018 shuttling between the Giants and Triple-A Sacramento, going 4-1 with a 5.06 ERA in 2017 and 1-0 with a 7.43 ERA in seven appearances in 2018.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882)
**Toronto and the journeyman years.** On April 2, 2019, the Giants traded Law, Alen Hanson, and Juan De Paula to the Blue Jays for center fielder [Kevin Pillar](https://www.edgepedia.org/kevin-pillar).[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882) In 2019 he ranked second on Toronto's staff in games (58) and set career highs for saves (5), innings (60.2), and strikeouts (67).[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882) He spent 2020 at Texas's alternate site without appearing in the majors, then made two stints with the [Minnesota Twins](https://www.edgepedia.org/minnesota-twins) in 2021.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882) In 2022 he signed minor league deals with Detroit and then [Cincinnati](https://www.edgepedia.org/cincinnati), reaching the Reds in August and not allowing a run in 11 of his 15 appearances; his August 30 win was his first major league victory since September 2019.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882)
**Washington Nationals.** Law's 2023 season with Washington featured a 3.60 ERA and a standout inherited-runner figure: he allowed only 7.7% of inherited runners to score (2 of 26), leading the National League and ranking third in Major League Baseball.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882) His 2024 season was his heaviest workload: career highs in games (75, third in the NL), innings (90, second among MLB relievers), strikeouts (76), holds (17), and wins (7), with a 2.60 ERA, his best since his rookie year. He pitched more than one inning 30 times, second-most in Nationals history behind Craig Stammen's 34 in 2012, and entered one game on the bullpen cart carrying an American flag.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882) Right forearm inflammation placed him on the 15-day injured list retroactive to March 24, 2025, and he was transferred to the 60-day list on July 5; he did not appear in the majors that season.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882)
**Arizona Diamondbacks.** Law elected free agency on November 2, 2025, signed a minor league contract with Arizona, and spent most of 2026 with the Triple-A Reno Aces, including a 60-day injured list stint. Arizona selected his contract on August 29, 2026, and he made seven appearances with a 1.00 ERA in 9.0 innings before being designated for assignment on September 16 and outrighted to Reno; he elected free agency on October 12, 2026.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882)
## Pitching profile
Law works as a multi-inning middle reliever. His 2024 pitch mix was cutter (37.9%), slider (30.0%), four-seam fastball (13.6%), sinker (9.8%), changeup (5.1%), and curveball (3.6%).[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882) An early scouting report credited his command, control, and unconventional mechanics with making it difficult for hitters to follow the ball from his hand.[4](https://www.mlb.com/news/bernie-pleskoff-derek-law-has-ability-to-thrive-as-member-of-giants-bullpen/c-66516130) He has also served as an "opener" and made one career start, in 2026, after never having started a game at any professional or collegiate level.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882)
## Off the field
Law's family ties to pitching run deep: his father Joe's four days on an MLB roster without pitching made Derek's 2016 debut the family's first big-league appearance.[3](https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB%20Media%20Guides/Archives/2020%20Media%20Guides/2020%20Texas%20Rangers%20Media%20Guide.pdf) • [7](https://www.mlb.com/news/derek-law-follows-moves-beyond-dad-s-career-c195876682) He and his wife, the former Chelsea Gielarowski, married on December 31, 2016, and have a son, Nolan Robert, born 2018; he is a [Pittsburgh Steelers](https://www.edgepedia.org/pittsburgh-steelers) fan.[3](https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB%20Media%20Guides/Archives/2020%20Media%20Guides/2020%20Texas%20Rangers%20Media%20Guide.pdf)
In May 2025, the Washington Post reported on an unlikely fan club: three 18-year-olds from Louisville, twins Trent and Trey Woods and their friend Kooper Dean, became Law superfans after a glitch in [MLB: The Show](https://www.edgepedia.org/mlb-the-show)'s "Diamond Dynasty" mode let them obtain a "Real 99"-rated card of the then-obscure reliever. Law, who runs out to "High Hopes" by [Panic! at the Disco](https://www.edgepedia.org/panic-at-the-disco) and is the Nationals' most frequent bullpen-cart rider, met the trio in Cincinnati, signed their jerseys and memorabilia, and bought them tickets to the next day's game.[8](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/05/08/derek-law-video-game-fans-nationals/)
## References
1. [Derek Law Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/player/derek-law-571882)
2. [Derek Law Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More, Baseball-Reference.com](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lawde01.shtml)
3. [2020 Texas Rangers Media Guide, MLB.com pressbox](https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB%20Media%20Guides/Archives/2020%20Media%20Guides/2020%20Texas%20Rangers%20Media%20Guide.pdf)
4. [Law has ability to thrive as member of Giants' bullpen, MLB.com (Bernie Pleskoff)](https://www.mlb.com/news/bernie-pleskoff-derek-law-has-ability-to-thrive-as-member-of-giants-bullpen/c-66516130)
5. [Derek Law, BR Bullpen, Baseball-Reference.com](https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Derek_Law)
6. [Derek Law Stats & Scouting Report, Baseball America](https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/6201-derek-law/)
7. [Law follows, eclipses father's baseball career, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/derek-law-follows-moves-beyond-dad-s-career-c195876682)
8. [A video game glitch spawned baseball's most unlikely fan club, The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/05/08/derek-law-video-game-fans-nationals/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Baseball and related bat sports › Professional baseball in the Americas › MLB players and personnel biographies › Relief pitchers and closers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license