Lawton was drafted by the Twins during the 1991 MLB draft out of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. A season later, he made is professional debut in the minor leagues with the Gulf Coast League Twins. He also played in the minors with the Fort Wayne Wizards (1993), the Fort Myers Miracle (1994, 1999), the Hardware City Rock Cats (1995), the Salt Lake Buzz (1996), and the Akron Aeros (2002–03). During his minor league career, Lawton compiled a .282 batting average with 460 hits, 95 doubles, 13 triples, 38 home runs, 206 RBIs, 114 stolen bases, 262 walks and 466 runs.\n', '

Lawton has won multiple awards over his career. He was selected to play in the 1994 Florida State League All-Star Game. He was also selected to play in the MLB All-Star twice, both times as a member of the American League (AL) team (2000, 2004). During the 2000 season, Lawton was named the Minnesota Twins Player of the Year. Some of Lawton\'s career also proved controversial. After the 2005 season, he received a ten-game suspension by MLB after testing positive to performance-enhancing drugs. Lawton did not appeal the suspension, instead acknowledging his use of the drugs. In a statement to the Associated Press, he apologized to "all those people that [he] let down".\n', '

Lawton attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Mississippi. Lawton\'s coach in college was Cooper Farris. From Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 13th round of the 1991 Major League Baseball draft. Five of Lawton\'s teammates from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College were also drafted in 1991. Lawton is one of four attendees of Mississippi Gulf Coast who later played in Major League Baseball. In 2004, Lawton donated US$10,000 to his alma mater. The funds were used to build a covered batting cage and improve the baseball team\'s field.\n', '

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