Broderick Happy To Be Back On The Field

James Broderick SS / 2B / Lawrence Academy, MA / 2020

GROTON, Ma. - It has been 10 months since James Broderick had Tommy John Surgery.

The Lawrence Academy incoming senior has learned a lot in that time frame.

“I already loved the game, but right now I appreciate the game more than ever being out that long,” Broderick explained. “I’ve learned not to worry about the little things, be grateful for every moment you’re on the field.”

The injury occurred on July 3 of last year when Broderick was pitching, with surgery taking place Aug. 17.

“They think it was torn earlier and I just kept playing with it,” Broderick said.

After three different diagnosis, Broderick had surgery following the Future Games.

“I wasn’t playing in the field, just hitting, so it kind of put me behind,” Broderick said about his recruitment.

A visit to Tulane took place last fall with the 55th-ranked 2020 in New England also having an interest in Holy Cross and Connecticut.

“I’m very good defensively anywhere in the infield,” explained Broderick, a shortstop prior to his injury but a second baseman since returning to action early this spring at Lawrence Academy. “Defense is definitely a huge part of my game. The injury made me live around the gym playing around with my glove.

“As for hitting, I’m usually a higher-average kind of guy at the top of the order or a number nine guy.”

Leadership is a trait that Broderick enjoys.

“My junior year I knew I needed to come around and be more of a role model for the younger kids,” Broderick noted. “When I was a freshman I looked up to the seniors, and I wanted to be able to do that when I got older. It’s about the little things, telling them to keep their heads up and set an example so that when they’re older they can be a role model.”

As a ninth grader, Broderick had sports aspirations outside of baseball.

“Up until high school I was more geared to hockey,” Broderick admitted. “But then my freshman summer going into my sophomore year I saw there were more opportunities in baseball. As I started to grow more, I developed into a better baseball player. I went to bigger tournaments and began to realize that what I wanted to do was play baseball. After starting on my high school team as a freshman, I realized I wanted to do that.”