Anthony Swarzak
Encyclopedia
Anthony Ray Swarzak is a Major League Baseball
starting pitcher
for the Minnesota Twins
. The 6'4", 225 lb. right-hander was the Twins' second-round pick in the June draft.
Top Gulf Coast League
Prospects list in . 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 . In 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, sidetracked his career. He tested positive for marijuana. 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 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 . 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.
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
.
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.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. The 6'4", 225 lb. right-hander was the Twins' second-round pick in the June draft.
Career
Swarzak was #15 on the Baseball AmericaBaseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
Top Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
Prospects list in . He was Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
Pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
of the Week (from May 23–30, 2005), the Twins' Pitcher of the Month (May 2005), Midwest League All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
, and #8 on the Baseball America Top Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
Prospects list in . In he was Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
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, sidetracked his career. He tested positive for marijuana. After having started the season with the Double A New Britain Rock Cats
New Britain Rock Cats
The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club. They compete in the Eastern League and play their home games at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.-History:...
, 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
Fort Myers Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle is the Class A Advanced minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club, currently managed by Jake Mauer. Home games are played at the Lee County Sports Complex in Hammond Stadium, which has a capacity of 7,500, and opened in...
, he returned to New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
.
He began the season with the Rock Cats, and went 3-8 with a 5.67 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. 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 . Following Spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, he was reassigned to Rochester. Swarzak suffered from a lack of run support in Rochester
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
to start the season. Despite an ERA of 1.59 in his first three starts, his record stood at 0-3.
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
Glen Perkins
Glen Weston Perkins is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. He made his major league debut with the Minnesota Twins in 2006. Perkins attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis-St. Paul and Stillwater Area High School in Oak Park Heights...
.
Swarzak made his major league debut for the Twins on May 23, 2009 in a home game against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. 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.