Short Time Mets Pitcher: Lance Broadway (2009)

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Lance Daniel Broadway was born August 20, 1983 in Bryan, Texas. The six foot four right hander attended Texas Christian University, where he was a star pitcher. He threw two no hitters, while winning the Triple Crown of pitching going 15-1, getting selected All Conference. Broadway also majored in communications.

In 2005 he was the Chicago White Sox number one draft choice, the 15th pick overall. In 2006 at AA Birmingham he struck out 111 batters in 25 games, getting labeled as having the best breaking ball in the league. Baseball America chose him as the fourth best prospect in the Sox organization.

Although he struggled in 2007 he got a September call up, debuting on September 7th, earning his first MLB strike out in 2/3 of a perfect innings work. His first decision came as a loss against the Cleveland Indians the following week. Back at AAA in 2008, he was ranked as the #2 Sox prospect, being ranked with the best curve & change in their system. He was now considered an even more desirable prospect.

With a last name like Broadway, he had to land in New York, and on May 30th 2009 he came to the New York Mets in a trade for catcher Ramon Castro. After starting out at AAA Buffalo he replaced Oliver Perez on the roster in late August.

He made his debut on August 29th, at Wrigley Field in Chicago pitching three innings, allowing two runs on four hits to the Cubs. He never pitched well in the final month of the dreadful ’09 season. Broadway would get pounded by the Florida Marlins at Citi Field with four runs over two innings of work.

He would have another bad outing vs. the Atlanta Braves on the September 21st. He would only pitch in eight games as a Met, earning no decisions while posting a 6.75 ERA in 14 innings of work. He was not tendered by the Mets after the season & signed a minor league with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Drama: On New Year’s Eve 2010, he was involved in a night club brawl in Dallas Texas, getting arrested for damaging a mans eye.

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