Jordan Swagerty

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #18 prospect in 2013
  After reaching Double-A in his 2011 pro debut, Swagerty arrived in big league camp last spring with a chance to lay the groundwork for a big league promotion later in the season. He left knowing he wouldn't throw a pitch at all in 2012. Pain radiating from bone spurs in his elbow led to Tommy John surgery, a proactive move to repair a ligament that would have unraveled at some point. When at full strength, Swagerty has a 92-94 mph fastball that climbs to 96. The Cardinals graded his curveball as the best available in the 2010 draft, and it's a classic knee-buckler. They broke him into pro ball as a starter so he could get innings to refine a third pitch and improve his command, and he showed promise in that role. But a return to relief could be a compromise St. Louis makes to monitor Swagerty's innings and put him back on his quick climb toward the majors. Reports from his rehab were encouraging and he still has a ceiling as a closer.
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #10 prospect in 2012
  Though few pitchers in the system sport as much closer pedigree as Swagerty, he began 2011 with a standout turn as a starter in Class A. The Cardinals wanted to give him regular innings and time to develop his pitches. Only when his innings started to climb did St. Louis shift him to the bullpen, where he posted a 1.64 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 27 innings. St. Louis graded Swagerty's breaking ball as the best curveball in the 2010 draft. It's actually more of a hybrid that he calls a slider, but the mid-80s offering that breaks down and away from righthanders is nasty by any name. His time as a starter allowed him to become more effective with his fastball and add a useful changeup. When he comes out of the bullpen, his heater sits at 92-94 mph and touches 96. Swagerty has some funkiness in his delivery and a slight build. Both lead to concerns about his durability, questions somewhat dispelled by his stamina in 12 starts. Swagerty soared through three levels in 2011, finishing the season as a Double-A closer. The Cardinals remain intrigued by him as a starter, though expediting him as a reliever would cut development time. He has the upside of a No. 3 starter or closer.
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #9 prospect in 2011
  Swagerty starred as both a pitcher and catcher in high school and saw action at both positions at Arizona State. Selected 29 picks after Sun Devils teammate Seth Blair last June, he used his leverage as a draft-eligible sophomore to get an above-slot $625,000 bonus in the second round. Swagerty signed too late to pitch in the minors, but did make four Arizona Fall League appearances. The Cardinals graded Swagerty's curveball as the best in the 2010 draft. He throws it in the mid-80s with both vertical and horizontal break, and it's becoming more of a hybrid pitch that he calls a slider. He relies heavily on his breaking ball, and also pounds the strike zone with a 92-94 mph fastball that peaks at 96. He'll add in an occasional changeup. He has a hitch in his delivery that adds deception, though that funkiness and his lack of size lead to concerns about his durability. He relished pitching the late innings as Arizona State's closer. As evidenced by his AFL assignment, Swagerty could move swiftly. However, St. Louis may use him as a starter in 2011 to give him innings to work on his changeup and enhance his stamina. He may open his first full pro season in the Quad Cities rotation, but his future is still as a set-up man or closer.

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: A college closer, Swagerty began 2011 with a standout turn as a starter in Class A. The Cardinals wanted to give him regular innings and time to develop his pitches. Only when his innings started to climb did St. Louis shift him to the bullpen, where he posted a 1.64 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 27 innings. Scouting Report: St. Louis graded Swagerty's breaking ball as the best curveball in the 2010 draft. It's actually more of a hybrid that he calls a slider, but it's nasty by any name, a mid-80s offering that breaks down and away from righthanders. His time as a starter allowed him to become more effective with his fastball and add a useful changeup. When he comes out of the bullpen, his heater sits at 92-94 mph and touches 96. Swagerty has some funkiness in his delivery and a slight build. Both lead to concerns about his durability, questions somewhat dispelled by his stamina in 12 starts. The Future: Swagerty soared through three levels in 2011, finishing the season as a Double-A closer. The Cardinals remain intrigued by him as a starter, thought that would require more development time compared to expediting him as a reliever. He has the upside of a No. 3 starter or closer.