Larry

Broadway

Broadway, a third-round pick last year, hit .307 with 14 HR, 51 RBI, 70/44 K/BB and 3 SB in 290 AB for Savannah. The 22-year-old is probably Montreal’s top non-pitching prospect, though that’s not saying much. He could be the team’s first baseman as soon as 2005.

Broadway is hitting .339/.387/.544 with seven homers and 39 RBI in 48 games for the Zephyrs. With Nick Johnson signed for three years, Broadway can be considered one of the Nationals’ best pieces of trade bait.

The Nationals could have called Broadway up next month, but since he’s limited to first base and a left-handed hitter, there would have been little for him to do. The 25-year-old hit .288/.353/.455 in 444 at-bats for New Orleans.

Broadway had a mildly disappointing season in Double-A, batting .270/.362/.451 in 131 games. He’s Washington’s top non-pitching prospect, but he’s not going to be a better long-term option at first base than Nick Johnson.

Only Blanco has a chance of making the Nationals, and we expect the Rule 5 pick to be returned to Cincinnati. Broadway, the team’s first baseman of the future, might be ready in 2006.

Since returning from a knee injury a couple of months ago, Broadway has hit .281/.347/.557 for Harrisburg. He’ll play in the Arizona Fall League.

Broadway is 20-for-59 with 13 walks for the Saguaros. His timetable has been pushed back after a season in which he was limited by a knee injury, but he still has a chance to be a regular first baseman, perhaps in 2007.

Broadway was 3-for-13. A strong year in Triple-A could make him a candidate to replace Nick Johnson at first base next year.