Anthony Swarzak

[William Malone]

Anthony Ray Swarzak was born on September 10, 1985 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The Minnesota Twins selected him in round two of the 2004 MLB Draft out of Nova High School in Florida. A failed drug test cost him 50 minor league games in 2007. Baseball American ranked Swarzak as the Twins sixth best prospect entering the 2009 season. They called him up to join the rotation on May 23, 2009.

His big league debut was brilliant. Swarzak tossed seven shutout innings in a win over the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing just seven base runners and striking out three. This performance was nearly repeated in his fifth career start on June 13th, once again giving Minnesota seven shutout innings during a win over the Chicago Cubs. He was 3-3 with a 3.74 ERA over his first eight career starts, but 0-4 with a 14.85 ERA that August. This ballooned his rookie year ERA up to 6.25 across 12 starts. Swarzak didn't pitch in September or the postseason.

Minnesota optioned Swarzak to Triple-A when camp broke in 2010. A line drive broke his foot early in the year, causing him to miss some time. He struggled upon returning, and didn't see any big league action that summer. Swarzak returned to the Majors in 2011, contributing as a starting pitcher and a long reliever. He was 4-7 with a 4.32 ERA, making 11 starts and 16 relief appearances for the Twins. Swarzak brought a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angles on May 28, 2011.

His role was similar in 2012, posting a 5.03 ERA in five starts and 39 relief outings.

Swarzak was a full time long reliever in 2013, covering 96.0 innings while appearing in 48 games for the Twins. He was especially effective in the second half, recording a 1.91 ERA and 0.982 WHIP in 37.2 innings after the All-Star break. Swarzak had a 4.60 ERA in 86.0 innings during the 2014 season, which included five spot starts. Minnesota removed him from the 40-man roster that off-season.

He spent most of 2015 and 2016 in the minor leagues, having brief big league stints with the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees. Swarzak broke camp with the Chicago White Sox after singing a minor league deal in 2017, owning a 2.23 ERA in 41 appearances for them. The Milwaukee Brewers acquired him in a deadline deal, and he had a 2.48 ERA for them after the trade.

His success in 2017 helped Swarzak land a two year, $14 million deal with the New York Mets in free agency. An oblique injury limited him to just 29 games. He was one of five pieces sent to the Seattle Mariners in the blockbuster deal that sent Edwin Díaz and Robinson Canó to New York the following winter. Injuries and ineffectiveness slowed down Swarzak over the next several seasons. He spent time at the big league level with the Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks and Kansas City Royals.

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