June 7, 2005

Fort Worth, Texas - TCU right-handed pitcher Lance Broadway was selected with the 15th pick in the first round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday. The Chicago White Sox made the junior the highest drafted player in school history.

"I am extremely excited," Broadway said. "It has been a life long dream to play professional baseball. Now here's my chance."

Broadway's selection marks the culmination of arguably the most productive season by a pitcher in TCU history. With a record of 15-1 and an ERA of 1.62, he solidified himself as one of the best pitchers in the country. His 15 victories currently tie him for the national lead and mark both a new school record and a new record in Conference USA.

Already named First-Team All-America by Louisville Slugger and Second-Team by Sports Weekly, Broadway is a semifinalist for the Roger Clemens Award, Xanthas-Dick Howser Trophy, and Brooks Wallace Award. Over the course of the season, the Conference USA Pitcher of the Year garnered NCBWA Pro-Line National Pitcher of the Week honors twice and the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week award four times.

During the 2005 season, Broadway appeared in 19 games with 16 starts. He went the distance in five starts and threw one shutout against the No. 1 ranked Tulane Green Wave. The Grand Prairie native struck out a C-USA best and school record 151 batters and walked only 35 in 117 innings. Opponents hit only .191 off of him and he recorded seven double-digit strikeout contests.

The TCU ace amassed two impressive streaks without allowing an earned run this season. The first lasted 36.2 innings and spanned seven appearances (six starts, one relief appearance) during which he struck out 52, walked six and allowed just 28 hits. The second streak lasted 25.2 innings and spanned four starts. He struck out 32, walked five and allowed 13 hits before allowing a run.

"We are so very excited for Lance and his family," TCU head baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle said. "He has worked hard to earn this honor and opportunity. His rise to success also speaks highly of his development in our program at TCU."

Former TCU star Fred Benavides had been the highest Frog drafted when he went in the second round of the 1987 draft to the Cincinnati Reds.