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Q&A with Miracle pitcher Anthony Swarzak

By David Dorsey
The News-Press

Anthony Swarzak joined the Minnesota Twins organization in 2004 as the team's second-round draft pick.

Swarzak, 20, has emerged as a solid starter for the Class A Florida State League Fort Myers Miracle.

Entering Saturday, Swarzak had a 2-3 record, with a 4.62 ERA, 40 strikeouts (third on the team) and 20 walks (first on the team).

Swarzak talked to The News-Press about his season and his background.

Question: Your teammate and friend Matt Garza just got promoted to Double-A New Britain. How did you react to that?

Answer: Hopefully, one day I'll get the call, too. It definitely lit a fire in me a little bit. Me and Garza became buddies.

Question: Can you describe yourself as a pitcher?

Answer: I throw fastball, curveball, change-up. My fastball ranges between 88 and 94 (miles per hour). I'm pretty aggressive. I try to attack the hitter and challenge him.

Question: You played on the 2004 Davie Nova High School team that won the Class 5A state championship. What do you remember about that team and experience?

Answer: You get that taste for winning, all four years. We had a real good team my senior year. We were ranked No. 1 in the nation. I started in the (state) semifinal game. You've got to win that one in order to get to the second one. We got a state-championship ring and a big newspaper article. I think about that every time I step on Legends Field (home of the Class A Tampa Yankees, also in the FSL).

Question: What do you like to do outside of baseball?

Answer: I like to golf and fish. I like to golf wherever I can play on last-minute notice. As for where I fish, I can't tell you that. It's too good of a spot. I'd have to blindfold you and take you there. Let's just say it's somewhere in Fort Myers.

Quote:

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I like to golf and fish. I like to golf wherever I can play on last-minute notice. As for where I fish, I can't tell you that. It's too good of a spot. I'd have to blindfold you and take you there. Let's just say it's somewhere in Fort Myers.

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I actually know where his "fishing hole" is (and am sworen to secrecy), but otherwise, I've been seeing him a angling in the outfield pond prior to the games.

Cats' Swarzak Suspended For Drugs

By TOM PULEO
Hartford Courant

NEW BRITAIN -- Anthony Swarzak, the Rock Cats' top pitching prospect, was suspended 50 games Friday for violating baseball's minor league policy against "drugs of abuse."

When asked if the drug was recreational, Swarzak, 21, said it was "something like that," but was not more specific. Under the policy, drugs of abuse are defined as substances "such as marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine and LSD."

Swarzak said the drug was "definitely not" steroids, which is not on the drugs of abuse list.

It was not known if it was a first or second violation. Last year, one minor league player received a 100-game suspension for a second violation for using drugs of abuse.

Swarzak apologized to the Minnesota Twins organization, his family, teammates and fans and vowed to learn from the experience. "It's definitely a good lesson in life for me," he said. "The last 24 hours has been the biggest life-changing experience I've ever had to go through."

Swarzak, a 6-foot-3 righthander, struggled in his first two Rock Cats appearances. He was 0-2 with an 11.12 ERA in 52/3 innings with one start and one relief appearance.

Last year, Swarzak went 11-7, 3.27 at Class A Fort Myers. He was their second-round pick (61st overall) in 2004 out of high school in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and is rated the Twins' No.5 prospect by Baseball America.

Swarzak is the fourth minor leaguer suspended under the program this year, the second for a drug of abuse. There were 37 suspensions last year - 32 for performance-enhancing drugs, five for others.

Swarzak will remain with the Rock Cats without pay during the suspension and sit in the stands during games. The Eastern League season is 142 games.

Swarzak turned down a scholarship to LSU in 2004 to sign with the Twins for $575,000.

New Britain manager Riccardo Ingram, who coached Swarzak in the Gulf Coast League in 2004, said he was disappointed.

"I'm just a little saddened by it," he said. "You always want your players to develop quickly and play up to their ability. ... Hopefully he gets through this and gets back out on the field."

Under the major league program, there were just three suspensions last year: Mets pitcher Yusaku Iriki, former Arizona pitcher Jason Grimsley and Mets reliever Guillermo Mota, who is serving his 50-game penalty at the start of this season.

April 21, 2007