Anthony Swarzak

Anthony Swarzak

Swarzak with the Minnesota Twins
Cleveland Indians – No. 51
Pitcher
Born: September 10, 1985
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 23, 2009 for the Minnesota Twins
Career statistics
(through April 11, 2015)
Win–loss record 16–24
Earned run average 4.48
Strikeouts 267
WHIP 1.38
Teams

Anthony Ray Swarzak (born September 10, 1985) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously pitched for the Minnesota Twins. The 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m), 210 pounds (95 kg) right-hander was the Twins' second-round pick in the 2004 June draft. Prior to his professional career, he starred as a pitcher at Nova High School in Davie, Florida, where he was a two-time High School All-American in 2003 and 2004. He had a scholarship to pitch for the Louisiana State University Tigers, before the Twins lured him away for a $575,000 bonus.

Career

Swarzak was #15 on the Baseball America Top Gulf Coast League Prospects list in 2004. He was Midwest League Pitcher of the Week (from May 23–30, 2005), the Twins' Pitcher of the Month (May 2005), Midwest League All-Star, and #8 on the Baseball America Top Midwest League Prospects list in 2005. In 2006 he was Florida State League Pitcher of the Week (from August 7–14, 2006) and a FSL Post-Season All-Star (2006).

Swarzak was one of the top rated prospects in the Twins' farm system before a fifty game suspension for violation of Minor League drug policy on April 20, 2007 sidetracked his career.[1] He tested positive for marijuana.[2] After having started the season with the Double A New Britain Rock Cats, upon his reinstatement from the restricted list on June 11, he was reassigned to Class A Advanced Fort Myers. After three games with the Miracle, he returned to New Britain.

He began the 2008 season with the Rock Cats, and went 3-8 with a 5.67 earned run average. After a promotion to Triple-A, his record actually improved to 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA in seven starts. He's been added to the Twins' 40 man roster, and spent his first spring with the Twins in 2009. Following Spring training, he was reassigned to Rochester. Swarzak suffered from a lack of run support in Rochester to start the season. Despite an ERA of 1.59 in his first three starts, his record stood at 0-3.[3]

His record improved to 3-4 with a 2.25 ERA when he got the call to the majors on May 20. He filled in the starting rotation for the injured left-handed starter Glen Perkins.[4]

Swarzak made his major league debut for the Twins on May 23, 2009 in a home game against the Milwaukee Brewers. He pitched seven shutout innings, giving up five hits and two walks while striking out three. The Twins won the game 6 – 2, earning Swarzak his first major league win.[5][6]

After shattering his foot by a liner, Swarzak's 2010 season was statistically awful as he spent the whole 2010 season in the minors. His ERA finished at 6.21 in AAA Rochester.

Swarzak rebounded in 2011, contributing both in long relief and in spot starts for the Twins. He pitched a total of 102 innings, going 4-7 in 27 games.

In 2012, Swarzak started 5 games for the Twins while making 39 appearances out of the bullpen, pitching to a collective 96 innings of work.

Swarzak began 2013 on the disabled list with fractured left ribs he suffered while "wrestling around a little bit". He was activated on April 7 and only missed 5 games. Swarzak was used as a long reliever in 2013 for the Twins. In 48 games, he went 3-2 with a 2.91 ERA, striking out 69 in 96 innings.

On November 25, 2014 the Twins announced that Swarzak had been outrighted off the 40-man roster and elected free agency.

References

  1. ↑ "Swarzak grateful for second chance". Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  2. ↑ http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/45923497.html?page=2&c=y
  3. ↑ "Minor League Baseball". Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  4. ↑ Neal III, La Velle E. (2009-05-20). "Twins call up Swarzak; Breslow claimed off waivers by Oakland". Twins Insider (Star Tribune). Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  5. ↑ Campbell, Dave (2009-05-23). "Mauer power: Swarzak, Twins beat Brewers 6-2". Minneapolis, Minn.: Star Tribune. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  6. ↑ "In-Progress Boxscore Milwaukee vs. Minnesota". Star Tribune. 2009-05-23. Retrieved 2009-05-23.

External links