Travis Swaggerty Needs to Make Strong Impression In Spring Training
p/c: Joe Sargent - Getty Images
Travis Swaggerty joined the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization in 2018, this after becoming a first round selection. The Bucs took the former South Alabama standout 10th overall, for a signing bonus of $4.4 million, with the slot value being just over $4.5 million.
Like with most highly drafted college players, the Pirates sent Swaggerty to the New York-Penn League, where he played with the West Virginia Black Bears, putting up an OPS of .819 in 158 plate appearances. He was then moved up to the Low A West Virginia Power, but really struggled there, as he posted only a .453 OPS in 71 plate appearances.
Swaggerty played his first full year in 2019 at High A, for the Bradenton Marauders. In a total of 524 plate appearances, he batted .265, while posting a .728 OPS, and stole 23 bases - tied for sixth most in the Florida State League.
Following the 2020 pandemic year, Swaggerty bypassed the AA level and began 2021 playing for AAA Indianapolis. The lefty-hitting outfielder dislocated his right shoulder in late May, which required season-ending surgery.
Because Swaggerty was eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, after the ‘21 season, the Pirates decided to place him on the 40-man roster.
Swaggerty returned to Indianapolis to start out 2022. He posted a .747 OPS in 458 plate appearances, with the Indians. Swaggerty was called up to Pittsburgh on June 4th. However, after going 1-for-9, he was optioned back to Indy on June 13th.
While it may have seemed odd that Swaggerty wasn’t recalled in September, he still finds himself on the 40-man currently, so apparently Ben Cherington has some faith in his abilities.
With Bryan Reynolds, Andrew McCutchen, and Jack Suwinski, as the projected starting outfielders, Swaggerty will have plenty of competition, just to be an extra in the outfield. This offseason, the Pirates added Ryan Vilade and Connor Joe - both of whom played for the Colorado Rockies last year. As for internal options, they have Cal Mitchell, Ji-hwan Bae, and Canaan Smith-Njigba.
To suggest that Swaggerty has to make a big impression in Spring Training would certainly be a vast understatement, especially since he was a former first rounder from five years ago, and could soon be labeled as a bust.