Lance Carter
Encyclopedia
Lance David Carter is a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
. He has pitched in Major League Baseball with the Kansas City Royals
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
(-), and Los Angeles Dodgers
. He bats and throws right-handed. He is currently the pitching coach of the Single-A Williamsport Crosscutters
of the New York – Penn League.
out of Manatee Community College
, Carter spent 6 years in the Royals minor league system, including losing the entire 1997 season due to injury, before making his major league debut with the Royals on September 15, 1999. Carter did not play in the majors in 2000 and became a free agent
at the end of the season. He did not play at all in 2001 and signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on January 11, 2002. Carter had a career year in 2003; Carter became the Devil Rays closer
and was elected to the All-Star Game
as a reserve, but did not play. During the 2003 season, he went 7-5 with a 4.33 ERA
. In 2004, Carter had a 3.47 ERA in 56 games, and a 4.89 ERA in 39 games in 2005.
On January 14, 2006, Carter and Danys Báez
were traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Edwin Jackson
and minor leaguer Chuck Tiffany. Carter struggled in his 10 games for the Dodgers before he was sent down to Triple-A Las Vegas
. A free agent after the 2006 season, Carter signed with the Orix Buffaloes
of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Carter pitched in just about every role for the Buffaloes, with 11 starts
in 34 games and 6 saves with a 4.48 ERA.
On January 2, 2008, he signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays with an invitation to spring training
. He pitched three scoreless innings in spring training for the Blue Jays, but was sent to minor league camp. He spent the entire 2008 season on the minor league disabled list
and became a free agent at the end of the season.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. He has pitched in Major League Baseball with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
(-), and Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. He bats and throws right-handed. He is currently the pitching coach of the Single-A Williamsport Crosscutters
Williamsport Crosscutters
The Williamsport Crosscutters are a Short-Season A classification minor league baseball team based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
of the New York – Penn League.
Professional career
Selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 21st round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft1994 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1994 Major League Baseball draft.-Compensation picks:-Other notable players:*A.J. Pierzynski , Minnesota Twins, 3rd round*Bobby Howry , San Francisco Giants, 5th round...
out of Manatee Community College
Manatee Community College
State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, formerly known as Manatee Community College, is a Florida state college with campuses in Bradenton, Venice and Lakewood Ranch...
, Carter spent 6 years in the Royals minor league system, including losing the entire 1997 season due to injury, before making his major league debut with the Royals on September 15, 1999. Carter did not play in the majors in 2000 and became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
at the end of the season. He did not play at all in 2001 and signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on January 11, 2002. Carter had a career year in 2003; Carter became the Devil Rays closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
and was elected to the All-Star Game
2003 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2003 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 74th midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues constituting Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 15, 2003 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois, the home of the Chicago...
as a reserve, but did not play. During the 2003 season, he went 7-5 with a 4.33 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. In 2004, Carter had a 3.47 ERA in 56 games, and a 4.89 ERA in 39 games in 2005.
On January 14, 2006, Carter and Danys Báez
Danys Báez
Danys Báez González is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Báez has previously played for the Cleveland Indians , Tampa Bay Devil Rays , Los Angeles Dodgers , Atlanta Braves , Baltimore Orioles , and Philadelphia Phillies .-Cleveland Indians:Báez was signed by the Cleveland...
were traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Edwin Jackson
Edwin Jackson
Edwin Jackson is an American professional baseball pitcher.-Early life:Jackson's father, Edwin Jackson, Sr., a military cook, was stationed in Germany at the time of his birth. Jackson is one of 27 major league players who were born in Germany...
and minor leaguer Chuck Tiffany. Carter struggled in his 10 games for the Dodgers before he was sent down to Triple-A Las Vegas
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
. A free agent after the 2006 season, Carter signed with the Orix Buffaloes
Orix Buffaloes
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka and Kobe, Japan. They play in the Pacific League. The team is owned by the Orix Group, a leading diversified financial services company based in Tokyo....
of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Carter pitched in just about every role for the Buffaloes, with 11 starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in 34 games and 6 saves with a 4.48 ERA.
On January 2, 2008, he signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays with an invitation to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. He pitched three scoreless innings in spring training for the Blue Jays, but was sent to minor league camp. He spent the entire 2008 season on the minor league disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
and became a free agent at the end of the season.