UNL Alum Among K.C. MiLB Free Agent Signees

The Kansas City Royals announced on Thursday evening they had agreed to terms with two minor league free agents, including a University of Nebraska-Lincoln alum. Infielder/outfielder Cody Asche and right-hander Mike Broadway each could be wearing Storm Chasers uniforms at some point during the 2018 campaign.

Asche spent the majority of the 2017 season with Triple-A Charlotte in the Chicago White Sox system, batting .292 (85-291) with 42 runs, 15 doubles, one triple, 14 homers and 57 RBI, along with a .392 on-base percentage in 87 contests. He also participated in 19 games with the White Sox, batting .105 (6-57) with five runs, one double, one homer and four RBI.

The 27-year-old is a five-year Major League veteran, combining to accumulate a .234 clip (290-1238) along with 129 runs, 71 doubles, four triples, 32 homers and 129 RBI in 390 games between the White Sox (2017) and Philadelphia Phillies. Asche was selected by the Phillies in the fourth round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He earned Second-Team All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball in 2011, in addition to First Team All-Big 12 as junior, pacing UNL in RBI (56), runs scored (46), hits (68), dobules (27), home runs (12), total bases (133), slugging percentage (.639) and walks drawn (34).
Broadway split last year between the Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays organizations. He completed the 2017 campaign in Durham, helping the Bulls win the Triple-A National Championship by posting a 1-1 record and 0.60 ERA (1 ER/15.0 IP) in six appearances (four starts), adding 18 strikeouts. 
The righty has combined for an 0-2 record and 6.75 ERA (17 ER/22.2 IP) with 17 strikeouts in 25 Major League outings with the San Francisco Giants between the 2015-16 seasons. He also pitched in the PCL with the Fresno Grizzlies (2014) and Sacramento River Cats (2015-16). In 2015 he tallied a 2-0 mark and 0.93 ERA (5 ER/48.1 IP) with 13 saves in 40 appearances, adding 64 punchouts. Broadway was originally selected in the fourth round of the 2005 MLB Draft out of Pope County High School in Illinois.