John Swanda Stats & Scouting Report

IP	293
ERA	5.375
WHIP	1.454
BB/9	3.256
SO/9	7.495

Full name John Swanda
Born 03/18/1999 in Des Moines, IA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 193 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Roosevelt
Drafted in the 4th round (115th overall) by the Los Angeles Angels in 2017 (signed for $625,000).

View Draft Report

Swanda's arrow is pointing up as the draft nears, but a number of evaluators believe he'll still be well served by heading to Nebraska as he has the projection to blossom with a few more years to gain strength and weight. An athletic shortstop/righthander in high school, Swanda's fastball now touches 91-93 mph much more frequently than it did last summer. He also snaps off a tight 11-to-5 curveball and shows the potential to have above-average control. He maintains his arm speed and has some deception on his straight changeup.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: Swanda played mostly shortstop in high school and didn't pitch much until about a month before the 2017 draft, but he is beginning to show why the Angels went well over slot to sign him as a pitcher. After he was arrested in the offseason for operating a vehicle under the influence and possession of a fake I.D., Swanda had what the Angels considered a productive 10 starts at Rookie-level Orem.

Scouting Report: Swanda's delivery is clean with a good, loose arm action and no glaring mechanical flaws. He throws a fastball between 89-92 mph and has good feel for a changeup and a slurve-like curve that. As a former infielder, he fields his position well. Swanda should gain more fastball velocity with physical maturity and strength and improve as he gains more seasoning on the mound.

The Future: The Angels are encouraged by the direction he is heading. He should be able to increase his workload at low Class A Burlington in 2019.
The Angels went well over slot to sign Swanda for $625,000 and get him to pass up a Nebraska scholarship. His numbers were not impressive in a brief seven-game stint in the Rookie-level Arizona League, and in late October the 18-year-old was arrested and charged in his native Iowa for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and possession of a fake I.D. On the mound, Swanda throws a fastball between 89-91 mph and showed advanced feel for a low-80s changeup. He possesses an extremely clean delivery with good, loose arm action and a solid repertoire considering he played mostly shortstop in high school and didn't pitch much until about a month before the draft. The primary focus for Swanda in fall instructional league was the development of his breaking ball, which is slurvy right now and could wind up being more of a slider. But Swanda spins his breaking ball well, and the Angels see it being a solid-average pitch down the road. As a former infielder, Swanda fields his position well. He should add more velocity as he fills out physically, and he should improve as he gains more seasoning on the mound. The Angels expect Swanda to have his legal issues resolved by the spring. He is slated to begin next season in extended spring training but should move up to Rookie-level Orem at some point.

Draft Prospects

Swanda's arrow is pointing up as the draft nears, but a number of evaluators believe he'll still be well served by heading to Nebraska as he has the projection to blossom with a few more years to gain strength and weight. An athletic shortstop/righthander in high school, Swanda's fastball now touches 91-93 mph much more frequently than it did last summer. He also snaps off a tight 11-to-5 curveball and shows the potential to have above-average control. He maintains his arm speed and has some deception on his straight changeup.

Career Transactions

RHP John Swanda assigned to Rocket City Trash Pandas from Salt Lake Bees.
RHP John Swanda assigned to Rocket City Trash Pandas from Salt Lake Bees.
RHP John Swanda assigned to Salt Lake Bees from Tri-City Dust Devils.
Salt Lake Bees activated RHP John Swanda.
RHP John Swanda assigned to Salt Lake Bees from Tri-City Dust Devils.
Tri-City Dust Devils activated RHP John Swanda from the temporarily inactive list.
Tri-City Dust Devils placed RHP John Swanda on the temporarily inactive list.
RHP John Swanda assigned to United States.
RHP John Swanda and assigned to Los Angeles Angels.