During spring training in 2000, Lawton stated that his eye socket was fully healed after the injury he suffered in 1999. On April 9, 2000, Lawton failed to catch a ball hit by Carlos Beltrán in the seventh inning that would have kept Twins pitcher Eric Milton's perfect game bid alive. In July, Lawton played on the AL team during the 2000 MLB All-Star Game. In the game, Lawton appeared in two at-bats, getting one hit and driving in a run. At season's end, Lawton compiled a .305 batting average with 84 runs scored, 171 hits, 44 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 88 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases in 156 games played. He played 83 games in right field, 67 in left field, and three in center field. Defensively, Lawton committed five errors; and made four assists, and 278 putouts. Amongst AL batters, Lawton was tied for fifth in doubles. After the season, he was named the Twins Player of the Year.