Lance David Carter (born December 18, 1974 in Bradenton, Florida) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He has pitched in Major League Baseball with the Kansas City Royals (1999) Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2002-2005), and Los Angeles Dodgers (2006). He bats and throws right-handed.

[edit] Professional career

Selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 21st round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft 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 Baez 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.

[edit] Personal life

Carter and his wife Amanda have one child, daughter Langley Ruth (born February 8, 2005).

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube