Lance Zawadzki
Encyclopedia
Lance Frederick Zawadzki (born May 26, 1985 in Framingham, Massachusetts
) is an American
professional baseball
shortstop
for the Los Angeles Dodgers
of Major League Baseball
.
in Shrewsbury
, Massachusetts in 2003. He was drafted straight out of high school in the 48th Round by the Montreal Expos
. Choosing to go to college instead of playing in the minor leagues, he committed to attend Louisiana State University
and after one year transferred to San Diego State University
before the spring of 2004.
On March 11, 2004, Zawadzki became the first person to get a hit at Petco Park
when he doubled off the wall as a freshman for San Diego State against Houston
. It was the first game played at the stadium.
During the 2005 summer, Zawadzki played for the Wareham Gatemen
in the Cape Cod Baseball League
in Massachusetts alongside teammates Daniel Bard
and Justin Masterson
.
Following the 2006 season, Zawadzki was taken in the 15th round by the St. Louis Cardinals
. He did not sign and transferred to Lee University
, which played in the 2007 NAIA
World Series.
in 4th Round (147th overall) of 2007 amateur entry draft. In 2007 he appeared in 10 games for the Arizona League Padres and 25 for the Eugene Emeralds
, hitting a combined .305
In 2008 he primarily played with the Fort Wayne Wizards
in the Single-A Midwest League
, hitting .273. In 2009 he split the season between the Advanced A Lake Elsinore Storm
and the AA San Antonio Missions
and hit .285 combined in 128 games.
Zawadzki made his professional debut with the Padres on May 2, 2010 against the Milwaukee Brewers
and recorded his first major league hit (a single) in his first at-bat, becoming the first baseball player from Lee University
to play in the Major Leagues. He appeared in only 20 games for the Padres, primarily at second base, and hit .200. In the minors that season, he was in 35 games for San Antonio and 61 for the AAA Portland Beavers
, hitting .225.
. He received an invitation to the Royals' Big League camp for the 2011 Spring Training. However, he spent all of the 2011 season in the minor leagues with the Omaha Storm Chasers, where he hit .233 in 91 games. He was released on October 10.
.
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for the 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...
of Major League Baseball
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...
.
Amateur career
Zawadzki graduated from St. John's High SchoolSt. John's High School (Massachusetts)
Saint John's High School is a private Catholic boys' high school located in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester...
in Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
, Massachusetts in 2003. He was drafted straight out of high school in the 48th Round by the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. Choosing to go to college instead of playing in the minor leagues, he committed to attend Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
and after one year transferred to San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
before the spring of 2004.
On March 11, 2004, Zawadzki became the first person to get a hit at Petco Park
PETCO Park
Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
when he doubled off the wall as a freshman for San Diego State against Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
. It was the first game played at the stadium.
During the 2005 summer, Zawadzki played for the Wareham Gatemen
Wareham Gatemen
The Wareham Gatemen are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Wareham, MA. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division...
in the Cape Cod Baseball League
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, in which many college baseball stars play during the summer. Many future Major League Baseball players have started there during their college years; MLB has provided...
in Massachusetts alongside teammates Daniel Bard
Daniel Bard
Daniel Paul Bard is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. Bard made his debut with the Red Sox in May 2009.-Collegiate career:...
and Justin Masterson
Justin Masterson
Justin Daniel Masterson is a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians. Masterson was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. Masterson was rated as the 64th-best prospect going into that year's draft by...
.
Following the 2006 season, Zawadzki was taken in the 15th round by the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He did not sign and transferred to Lee University
Lee University
Lee University is an American accredited, private, four-year liberal arts college located in Cleveland, Tennessee, United States. It is historically affiliated with the Church of God, a Pentecostal denomination, and was the denomination's Bible Training School from 1918 until 1947, when the name...
, which played in the 2007 NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
World Series.
San Diego Padres
He was selected by the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in 4th Round (147th overall) of 2007 amateur entry draft. In 2007 he appeared in 10 games for the Arizona League Padres and 25 for the Eugene Emeralds
Eugene Emeralds
The Eugene Emeralds is a minor league baseball team in Eugene, Oregon, United States. They are a short-season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been a farm team of the San Diego Padres since 2001....
, hitting a combined .305
In 2008 he primarily played with the Fort Wayne Wizards
Fort Wayne Wizards
The Fort Wayne TinCaps are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the San Diego Padres, that plays in the Midwest League. They won their first Midwest League Championship in 2009.-History:...
in the Single-A Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
, hitting .273. In 2009 he split the season between the Advanced A Lake Elsinore Storm
Lake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm is a minor league baseball team in Lake Elsinore, California, USA. It is a Class A - Advanced team in the California League, and is a farm team of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond...
and the AA San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
and hit .285 combined in 128 games.
Zawadzki made his professional debut with the Padres on May 2, 2010 against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and recorded his first major league hit (a single) in his first at-bat, becoming the first baseball player from Lee University
Lee University
Lee University is an American accredited, private, four-year liberal arts college located in Cleveland, Tennessee, United States. It is historically affiliated with the Church of God, a Pentecostal denomination, and was the denomination's Bible Training School from 1918 until 1947, when the name...
to play in the Major Leagues. He appeared in only 20 games for the Padres, primarily at second base, and hit .200. In the minors that season, he was in 35 games for San Antonio and 61 for the AAA Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
, hitting .225.
Kansas City Royals
On November 5, 2010, Zawadzki was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City RoyalsKansas 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...
. He received an invitation to the Royals' Big League camp for the 2011 Spring Training. However, he spent all of the 2011 season in the minor leagues with the Omaha Storm Chasers, where he hit .233 in 91 games. He was released on October 10.
Los Angeles Dodgers
In November, 2011, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles DodgersLos 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...
.