Alex Swim - 2015

[stringer bell]

I have been at Fort Myers for Twins' Spring Training for the last four years.  I always watch plenty of minor league action, and the last two years Alex Swim has caught my eye.  Perhaps it is the unusual last name, perhaps it is the smooth left handed swing, or maybe it is just happenstance, but when I've seen Swim at the plate in BP or minor league games, there have been a lot of line drives.  He is a left handed hitting catcher, who also has logged considerable time in the outfield.  So far, in two plus years in the Twins' organization, Swim has hit .305 with an OPS of .702.  Swim is 5'11" and goes about 180 pounds.  So far, he hasn't hit for much power (16 doubles, no homers), but I believe he will develop more extra-base sock in the near future.

 

I have no idea what kind of defense Swim plays behind the dish, I have seen him make a few nice plays and throws from the outfield.  I presume he is adequate or the Twins would move him full-time to the outfield (only a guess).  I do know that Swim has not been regarded as a top prospect, but since he has a left handed bat and offers utility by playing other positions, I think he has a better chance than most to get to the majors, a la Chris Herrmann.

 

On Saturday, Alex provided the game-winning hit for the Miracle with a walk-off single in Fort Myers' extra-inning 4-3 win.  Keep it up Alex!

[stringer bell]

Swim had two hits yesterday.  He has hit in all six Miracle games.  Currently hitting .346, with no extra base hits and six RBI.

[Seth Stohs]

From the Twins Daily twitter feed this morning:

 

 

 

 

Twins Daily @twinsdaily  ·  14h 14 hours ago
Ft.Myers' Alex Swim has a 14 game hitting streak. In it, he's hitting .435/.462/.468 (.929) with 2 doubles. 4 straight multi-hit games.

 

[blairpaul715]

I know alot of low draft pick players do well early, but Alex is doing extremely well, I like his very low strikeout rate........if he get promoted next yr to AA and can hit .300 or better, he will become a prospect I would guess.......Always pulling for the underdog

[stringer bell]

Swim continues to lead the Miracle in hitting.  Currently he's at .336 (4th in the FSL).  Swim has only two extra-base hits and doesn't walk much, so his OPS is only .712, but he makes solid contact a lot.  Swim continues to play catcher, first base and corner outfield on a regular basis. 

[goulik]

What do we know of his catching ability? If they are using him all over, is it because he is such a good hitter they want him in the line up everyday or is it cuz Swim just is not gonna be an MLB catcher?

[stringer bell]

 

What do we know of his catching ability? If they are using him all over, is it because he is such a good hitter they want him in the line up everyday or is it cuz Swim just is not gonna be an MLB catcher?

I don't know about Swim's catching ability.  I observed him as pretty solid and with a good OF arm.  Because of his limited power so far, I wonder if the perception is that the only way his bat plays is if he is a catcher. 

[nytwinsfan]

Swim seems to have had a great K rate (less than 10%) each year in the minors, including this one (9.1%) and to have also had a .350 OBP or higher. Although his power is lacking, if he is decent behind the plate I could see him competing for the catching job in two years or so with Stuart Turner.  This year his caught stealing rate at Fort Myers has been 27% and in the past two years it has been 25 and 28%. So good, but not great. Turner's rates have been 32, 32, and 30 percent respectively, so better, but not that much better.

 

Anyone know anything more about Swim's defense at catcher, or game-calling ability, things like that? This article suggests his defense is good. If so, maybe Swim should be getting a little more love as a potential prospect?

[Shane Wahl]

He has creepily similar stats in 2015 at Fort Myers as he did at Cedar Rapids in 2014. He is also getting some time in the OF, though it seems like it might not be working out very well. He has gotten significant time at 1B, too, but he isn't even six feet tall, so that is not going to last. The .714 OPS at Fort Myers warrants a promotion to Chattanooga, in my view.