Back from Korea, White Sox reliever Swarzak making his mark in majors
Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Anthony Swarzak has come a long way this season.
A long, long way.
Two years ago, after being designated for assignment by the Cleveland Indians, Swarzak asked for his release so he could pitch for the Doosan Bears in Korea.
The money ($400,00) was good, but the experience was not.
"I think about it a lot, to the point where I almost wish I didn't go," Swarzak said. "It was one of those things where for the first time in my career, I kind of chased the money. I regret the decision. At the time, it was the right thing to do for my family.
"But as far as the course of my career, I never thought it was going to be as hard as it was to come back here. I went over there for three months and all of the sudden I kind of got lost in the shuffle. I had to reinvent myself and start all over."
Invited to training camp by the Yankees in the spring of 2016, Swarzak began last season with Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before New York purchased his contract in early June.
After going 1-2 with a 5.52 ERA in 26 relief appearances with the Yankees, Swarzak was nontendered and became a free agent.
It turned out to be a fruitful transaction for the White Sox.
Swarzak signed a minor-league deal with the Sox three weeks before spring training, he made the 25-man roster and the 31-year-old righty just might be the hottest pitcher in baseball.
Heading into Tuesday night's late game against the Angels, Swarzak had rattled off 19⅔ scoreless innings to open the season while retiring 47 of his last 50 batters faced.
Swarzak, who pitched for the Twins from 2009-14 and the Indians in 2015, also had 22 strikeouts and only 2 walks.
"Honestly, I'm not surprised," he said. "I know that might sound bad, but I think we all kind of believe in ourselves. That's why we're here. I am just trying to take it all in stride and not put too much pressure on myself. It's just a good month, that's how I'm looking at it.
"I'm trying to follow it up with another good month and so on and so forth. Come August, if we're still in the same boat, I think that would be something to be pretty proud of."
According to Brooks Baseball, Swarzak has stormed out of the gates throwing hard sliders and four-seam fastballs that regularly hit 95 mph.
"I just want to try to beat guys with my best stuff," Swarzak said. "That's what I told myself coming into this season. I'm not going to give in to anybody and if I walk them, that's fine. I'll take my chances with the next guy.
"Right now, guys are kind of playing right into my hands, honestly. I'm just throwing strikes and trying to stay ahead in the count and I'm getting the breaks. I'm just trying to roll with it."