2011.05 - Buffalo Sauce - A look at Mike Swanson

[mrbornac]

Mike "Barbed Wire" Swanson was the first player selected in the 2010 first-year player draft by the Buffalo Bison. After two seasons in the minors, the first in rookie ball, and this past season in single-A, Swanson has struggled some as he has moved up the system, and his numbers have not been promising to this point, however, we are not worried at this point about the results in terms of wins and losses, ERA and WHIP. What we are watching with Mike is simply development. Is he getting better yet, or at the age of 19 ending this year, is he stalled out? It appears that he is moving forward (knock on wood), with his talents staying the same, with some actual pitch talents going up in the past year (to a 9 on both the slider and sinker). At the end of this year, he has actual ratings of 5-6-4 in Stuff, Movement, and Control.

While it does not appear that this kid will make his debut in 2012, it's possible that we can see him show up in 2013 if he continues to improve. And if he can ever fulfill the destiny which is his potential, this kid will be a monster that the FLA will regret ever seeing.

[trmmilwwi]

He has a ways to go but man that kid has potential!!

[agrudez]

His 3.98 FIP in A-ball wasn't too bad (especially as a 19 year old) and his dev seems to be well paced atm... good stuff.