Travis Swaggerty

Travis Wade Swaggerty Jr. (born August 19, 1997) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Travis Swaggerty
Swaggerty with the Indianapolis Indians in 2022
Free agent
Outfielder
Born: (1997-08-19) August 19, 1997
Covington, Louisiana, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 7, 2022, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Batting average.111
Home runs0
Runs batted in0
Teams

Amateur career

Swaggerty attended Denham Springs High School in Denham Springs, Louisiana, and played on their baseball team. As a senior, he batted .451 and was named to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association's Class 5A All State team.[1] He was not drafted in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft and enrolled at the University of South Alabama where he played college baseball.[2]

As a freshman in 2016 at South Alabama, Swaggerty appeared in 59 games, compiling a .303 batting average with four home runs, 27 RBIs, 12 doubles and 20 stolen bases.[3] In 2017, as a sophomore, he appeared in and started 58 games, slashing .356/.484/.571 with 11 home runs, 60 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases.[4][5] After the season, was named to the All-Sun Belt First Team.[6] That summer, Swaggerty played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team where he batted .328/.449/.406 in 19 games,[7] and also briefly played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[8] He was named a first-team preseason All-American by Baseball America,[9] D1Baseball.com,[10] and Perfect Game prior to his junior season along with being named the 2018 Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year.[11] He finished his junior season batting .296 with 13 home runs, 38 RBIs, and a .455 on-base percentage over 57 games.[12] He was named to the All-Sun Belt First Team for the second year in a row.[13]

Professional career

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Swaggerty in the first round, with the tenth overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[14] He signed for $4.4 million and was assigned to the West Virginia Black Bears of the Low-A New York–Penn League, with whom he was named an All-Star.[15][16][17] After hitting .288 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 36 games for the Black Bears, he was promoted to the West Virginia Power of the Single-A South Atlantic League in August.[18] He finished the season with the Power, batting .129 with one home run and five RBIs in 16 games.[19] Swaggerty spent 2019 with the Bradenton Marauders of the High-A Florida State League and was named an All-Star.[20][21] Over 121 games, he slashed .265/.347/.381 with nine home runs, forty RBIs, and 23 stolen bases.[22] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 after the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[23]

To begin the 2021 season, Swaggerty was assigned to the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-A East.[24] On May 27, he was placed on the 60-day injured list after dislocating his right shoulder.[25][26] He later had season-ending surgery.[27] Over 41 at-bats prior to the injury, he hit .220 with three home runs and seven RBIs.[28] On November 19, 2021, the Pirates selected Swaggerty's contract and added him to their 40-man roster.[29] He returned to the Indians to begin the 2022 season.[30] In early May, he was placed on the injured list with a concussion but was activated just a week later.[31]

On June 4, 2022, the Pirates promoted Swaggerty to the major leagues.[32] At the time of his promotion, he was batting .280 with four home runs, 22 RBIs, and two triples over 35 games.[33] He started in center field in a game against the Detroit Tigers on June 7, making his MLB debut.[34] Swaggerty recorded his first major league hit against Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried on June 9.[35] He was optioned back to Indianapolis on June 13.[36]

Swaggerty was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the 2023 season.[37] In 17 games, he hit .200/.278/.369 with one home run, five RBI, and three stolen bases.[38] He spent time on the injured list due to recurrent migraines, which he began experiencing in November 2022.[39] On July 17, Swaggerty was designated for assignment by the Pirates.[40] He was released by the team on July 19.[41]

Chicago White Sox

On August 13, 2023, Swaggerty signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.[42] He was released on October 10, without having appeared in a game for the organziation.[43]

Personal life

During Swaggerty's junior year at the University of South Alabama, his partner Peyton transferred to the school.[44] Shortly after he was drafted, she was diagnosed with and treated for thyroid cancer.[44] The couple married in December 2020 and they welcomed their first child, a daughter, in September 2021.[45][46]

References
  1. "Acadiana's Boutin earns All-State acclaim". Daily Advertister. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  2. "Swaggerty, Denaburg, Larnach Helping Themselves". Baseball America. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  3. "South Alabama's Travis Swaggerty named Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American". al.com. June 8, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  4. "Travis Swaggerty: Making the Most of an Opportunity". BTS Sports. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  5. "2018 Conference Preview: Sun Belt". Baseball America. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  6. "Sun Belt Conference Announces End of Season Baseball Honors". Sun Belt Conference. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  7. "South Alabama's Travis Swaggerty named first-team preseason All-American". AL.com. January 29, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  8. "Travis Swaggerty - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  9. "USA's Swaggerty Named Preseason All-American by D1Baseball - Sun Belt Conference". Sunbeltsports.org. January 23, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  10. "Travis Swaggerty, South Alabama baseball earn preseason accolades". AL.com. January 23, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  11. "South Alabama's Swaggerty, Troy's Crane highlight preseason All-Sun Belt baseball team". al.com. January 31, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  12. "First-round draft projections are latest accolade former Denham Springs star Travis Swaggerty takes in stride | Sports". theadvocate.com. June 2, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  13. "South Alabama's Swaggerty, Troy's Crane Highlight Preseason All-Sun Belt Baseball Team - Sun Belt Conference". Sunbeltsports.org. January 31, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  14. "Pirates select college outfielder Travis Swaggerty with first-round pick in MLB draft | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Post-gazette.com. June 17, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  15. Kevin Gorman (May 22, 2018). "Kevin Gorman: Pirates' top pick Travis Swaggerty ready to suit up after signing". TribLIVE. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  16. "Swaggerty, Freeman among NYPL All-Stars". MiLB.com.
  17. Jerry DiPaola (June 4, 2018). "Pirates sign 1st-round pick Travis Swaggerty". TribLIVE. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  18. "Pirates are Promoting First Round Pick Travis Swaggerty".
  19. "2020 Will be a Vital Season for Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Travis Swaggerty". April 13, 2020.
  20. "Seven Marauders Chosen as FSL All Stars". OurSports Central. May 24, 2019.
  21. "Pirates' Travis Swaggerty: Advances to High-A". CBSSports.com.
  22. "Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Spotlight: Travis Swaggerty". SI.com.
  23. "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  24. "Travis Swaggerty relishing big opportunity at Class AAA Indianapolis". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  25. "Pirates outfield prospect Travis Swaggerty considering surgery after right shoulder dislocation". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  26. "Pirates' Travis Swaggerty: Moves to MiLB IL". CBSSports.com.
  27. Biertempfel, Rob. "Pirates 2021 MLB Draft preview: As rebuild rolls on, will it be Marcelo Mayer, Jordan Lawlar or Jack Leiter at No. 1?". The Athletic.
  28. "Pirates' Travis Swaggerty: Dealing with shoulder injury". CBSSports.com.
  29. "Pirates add four to 40-man roster, designate Michael Perez for assignment | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette".
  30. "Pirates No. 1 Prospect, Oneil Cruz, Headlines Indy's Opening Day Roster".
  31. "Pirates' Travis Swaggerty: Placed on injured list".
  32. "Travis Swaggerty on his callup, what's led to his recent hot stretch and the Pirates' 'special' future". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  33. Gorman, Kevin (June 4, 2022). "Pirates promoting 2018 1st-round pick OF Travis Swaggerty for MLB debut". TribLIVE.com.
  34. "Rain man: Skubal wins 4th straight as Tigers top Pirates 5-3". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 8, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022. Alternate URL
  35. Mackey, Jason (June 9, 2022). "Travis Swaggerty celebrates his first MLB hit Thursday in Atlanta". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  36. "Pirates' Travis Swaggerty: Sent down Monday".
  37. "Pirates' Travis Swaggerty: Optioned out to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  38. "Pirates' Travis Swaggerty: Dropped from 40-man roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  39. Destin, Andrew (June 13, 2023). "Pirates Pipeline: Travis Swaggerty back in action despite battling migraines, wife's blood disease". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  40. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2023/07/17/pittsburgh-pirates-travis-swaggerty-designated-for-assignment-first-round-pick-surprise-move/stories/202307170094
  41. https://www.mlb.com/transactions/2023/07/19/p-1
  42. "White Sox to Sign Former First-Round Pick Travis Swaggerty". ontapsportsnet.com. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  43. https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-10-10
  44. Gorman, Kevin (June 9, 2022). "After 'trials and tribulations,' Travis Swaggerty finds perfect timing for Pirates debut". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  45. "Pirates prospect grateful after daughter born 6 weeks early". September 17, 2021.
  46. Mackey, Jason (October 25, 2021). "How Travis Swaggerty grew and matured away from baseball in 2021". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
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