Dave Swanson

David Charles Swanson

• Bats Both, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 184 lb.

• High School Berlin High School

• Born October 19, 1972 in New Britain, CT USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Dave Swanson pitched in the minor leagues for 11 years, never above the A level.

Swanson was taken by the New York Mets in the 9th round of the 1991 amateur draft. He was the fourth high school pitcher the Mets took that year, following Bill Pulsipher, Marc Kroon and Erik Hiljus. Swanson was 4-3 with a 2.64 ERA as a rookie for the GCL Mets. He remained effective with the 1992 Kingsport Mets (4-2, 3.09), striking out 77 in 75 2/3 innings. Moving up to the Pittsfield Mets in 1993, he posted a 6-3, 2.99 record. He experienced his first struggles in 1994, going 5-12 with a 4.25 ERA for the Columbia Bombers. Only Eric Ludwick lost more games in the Mets chain. Moving to the bullpen in 1995, Swanson was lights-out (7-1, 3 Sv, 1.46) after 29 games for the Bombers. He was then dealt as the player to be named later in a deal with Bret Saberhagen to the Colorado Rockies for Juan Acevedo and Arnold Gooch. He was 1-0 with a save and a 4.97 ERA in eight games after the trade for the Asheville Tourists, surprisingly ending his Organized Baseball run after his strongest start.

From 1996-2001, Swanson was in the independent leagues. He was 0-2 with a 5.59 ERA for the 1996 Amarillo Dillas, walking 36 in 56 1/3 innings. In 1997, he had a 7-7, 4.42 record for the Waterbury Spirit, moving back into a starting role. Remaining with Waterbury in 1998, the Connecticut native improved to 7-2, 2.63. He was 5th in the Northeast League in ERA. He fell back to 6-5, 4.49 in his third year with Waterbury. In 2000, the veteran was 3-3 with a 4.90 ERA for the Bridgeport Bluefish. He ended up with Bridgeport in 2001, going 8-8 with a 4.18 ERA.