Travis Swaggerty

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #15 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Swaggerty represented a relatively safe profile ahead of the 2018 draft as a lefthanded outfielder with extensive college track record at South Alabama, where he hit 28 homers and walked more than he struck out. Pittsburgh selected Swaggerty 10th overall, intrigued by the power-speed potential. But the consistency Swaggerty showed in college hasn’t materialized as a professional. He slugged just .381 in 2019 at High-A Bradenton, then spent all of 2020 at Pittsburgh’s alternate site. His 2021 season ended after 12 games with Triple-A Indianapolis when he dislocated his non-throwing shoulder diving back to first base, requiring season-ending surgery.
  
  Scouting Report: Swaggerty always showed advanced understanding of the strike zone, but too often he chased power at the expense of contact. The Pirates believed Swaggerty was heading toward a breakout season, noting that his improved swing decisions led to more frequent hard contact, and he appeared more upright in his setup at the plate compared to two years ago. Evaluators may need more convincing when it comes to Swaggerty’s bat, but few question his defensive chops. He’s a plus defender with an above-average arm. Swaggerty likely would have been regarded as one of the best defensive center fielders in the upper levels had he stayed healthy.
  
  The Future: Pittsburgh rued the timing of Swaggerty’s injury as it cycled through center field options in the big leagues in 2021. He has the ceiling of a second-division starter if he can demonstrate more consistent hitting ability.
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #14 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The Pirates drafted Swaggerty 10th overall in 2018 and gave him a $4.4 million bonus based on the power-speed combination he showed at South Alabama. Swaggerty's speed has translated to pro ball, but his power has not. Swaggerty hit a combined .257/.339/.381 in his first two seasons, topping out at high Class A. The Pirates brought him to their alternate training site in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Swaggerty has the potential for average or better tools across the board, but he simply doesn't make enough contact. He tends to sell out for power, leading to a lot of swings and misses and a decline in his overall offensive game. Swaggerty worked to clean up his hitting mechanics, but the lost 2020 minor league season didn't give him a chance to show off the results of his work. He draws plenty of walks, which allows his plus speed to play on the bases. Swaggerty's defense is ahead of his offense. He's a plus defender with the range and above-average arm strength to be the Pirates' center fielder of the future.
  
  THE FUTURE: Swaggerty has to start making more contact. If he can, he has the tools to be an everyday outfielder.
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #11 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Swaggerty emerged as a top draft prospect in 2018 after showing promising a power-speed combo at South Alabama, but some scouts had concerns after he hit just .296 playing against mid-major competition. The Pirates drafted Swaggerty 10th overall and signed him for $4.4 million. He showed bits of power and speed at high Class A Bradenton in his first full season, but he underwhelmed with his contact skills.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Swaggerty flashes average or better tools across the board, but he too often falls into the trap of selling out for power and swings and misses too often. Swaggerty's power is only average, and he is at his best when he tones it down and focuses on making contact. Swaggerty hit just .219 with a 25-percent strikeout rate through June, but he recovered to bat .328 with an 18-percent strikeout rate the rest of the season, showing the bat-to-ball skills the Pirates believe is present when he takes the right approach. Swaggerty is an above-average defensive center fielder with an above-average arm and should stick at the position. He also is a plus runner capable of stealing 20-plus bases a year.
  
  THE FUTURE: Swaggerty hasn't lived up to his draft slot, with his contact issues holding him back. He will try to carry his second-half improvement into 2020 with Double-A Altoona.
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #4 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Swaggerty went undrafted after earning all-state honors at Denham Springs High in Louisiana. He initially went to South Alabama as a two-way player but focused on the outfield and put on muscle to add power to his athleticism. He hit 27 home runs and stole 48 bases at South Alabama. He got a little power-hungry as a junior as he struggled more at the plate, but the Pirates still believed in his bat, picking him 10th overall in 2018.
  
  Scouting Report: Swaggerty is a well-rounded player with potentially no below-average tool if he can improve his hitting. At his best, he shows patience and a short, controlled swing with power thanks to buggy whip in his swing. His quest for power has gotten him into bad habits at times. Swaggerty should stay in center field as an above-average defender. He has plus speed to get to balls in the gap and the above-average arm strength to make throws from center even when he's off balance.
  
  The Future: The Pirates generally take their time moving players up the ladder, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Swaggerty head to low Class A Greensboro to start the 2019 season, but he shouldn't finish there as an experienced college star.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #11 prospect in 2018 draft
  After going undrafted out of high school with little to no hype in the scouting community, Swaggerty has become a top-of-the-first-round talent because of his performance at South Alabama and an impressive summer with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team in 2017. With Team USA, Swaggerty started in center field and hit near the top of the order, hitting .328/.449/.406. That came after a spring in the Sun Belt Conference where his on-base plus slugging percentage was over 1.000 with 10 home runs. On the national radar after his impressive 2017 campaign, Swaggerty had one of the loudest starts to the 2018 season of any college player, hitting .390/.609/.707 through his first 13 games with three home runs. A five-tool talent, Swaggerty projects as an at least average hitter who has 60-grade running ability, 60-grade defense in center field and an above-average to plus arm. He profiles fairly safely in center field at the next level, and while some scouts have questioned his power potential in the past, he seems to have ticked up in that category early this spring and should have fringe-average to average power. Swaggerty seems to get the most out of his power potential, with 10 home runs during his sophomore season at South Alabama. He has also cut his strikeout rate and improved his walk rate during each of his seasons at South Alabama and in 2018 he is among the nation's leaders in walks and walks per game. While Swaggerty has cooled off a bit as the season progressed, he seems to be a safe bet as a lefthanded hitting center fielder with a college track record and no real holes in his game.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #2 prospect in 2018
  The Pirates’ most recent first-rounder impressed in his first stint of professional baseball after being selected 10th overall. The Louisiana native built off of an excellent season for South Alabama, where his on-base percentage was .455 and he walked more than he struck out. Swaggerty showed the same prowess for West Virginia, getting on base at a .365 clip before being promoted to the low Class A South Atlantic League to end the season. Swaggerty’s first-round selection was merited by the five tools he showed. His hit tool is solid and his power has the potential to be plus. He has plus speed and an above-average arm. While Swaggerty has a chance to stay in center field, scouts generally expect him to end up playing in a corner long-term. Managers around the league applaud Swaggerty for being someone who can do a bit of everything, and he makes the most of his athleticism on defense.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Swaggerty represented a relatively safe profile ahead of the 2018 draft as a lefthanded outfielder with extensive college track record at South Alabama, where he hit 28 homers and walked more than he struck out. Pittsburgh selected Swaggerty 10th overall, intrigued by the power-speed potential. But the consistency Swaggerty showed in college hasn&#39t materialized as a professional. He slugged just .381 in 2019 at High-A Bradenton, then spent all of 2020 at Pittsburgh&#39s alternate site. His 2021 season ended after 12 games with Triple-A Indianapolis when he dislocated his non-throwing shoulder diving back to first base, requiring season-ending surgery.
  
  Scouting Report: Swaggerty always showed advanced understanding of the strike zone, but too often he chased power at the expense of contact. The Pirates believed Swaggerty was heading toward a breakout season, noting that his improved swing decisions led to more frequent hard contact, and he appeared more upright in his setup at the plate compared to two years ago. Evaluators may need more convincing when it comes to Swaggerty&#39s bat, but few question his defensive chops. He&#39s a plus defender with an above-average arm. Swaggerty likely would have been regarded as one of the best defensive center fielders in the upper levels had he stayed healthy.
  
  The Future: Pittsburgh rued the timing of Swaggerty&#39s injury as it cycled through center field options in the big leagues in 2021. He has the ceiling of a second-division starter if he can demonstrate more consistent hitting ability.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Swaggerty represented a relatively safe profile ahead of the 2018 draft as a lefthanded outfielder with extensive college track record at South Alabama, where he hit 28 homers and walked more than he struck out. Pittsburgh selected Swaggerty 10th overall, intrigued by the power-speed potential. But the consistency Swaggerty showed in college hasn’t materialized as a professional. He slugged just .381 in 2019 at High-A Bradenton, then spent all of 2020 at Pittsburgh’s alternate site. His 2021 season ended after 12 games with Triple-A Indianapolis when he dislocated his non-throwing shoulder diving back to first base, requiring season-ending surgery.
  
  Scouting Report: Swaggerty always showed advanced understanding of the strike zone, but too often he chased power at the expense of contact. The Pirates believed Swaggerty was heading toward a breakout season, noting that his improved swing decisions led to more frequent hard contact, and he appeared more upright in his setup at the plate compared to two years ago. Evaluators may need more convincing when it comes to Swaggerty’s bat, but few question his defensive chops. He’s a plus defender with an above-average arm. Swaggerty likely would have been regarded as one of the best defensive center fielders in the upper levels had he stayed healthy.
  
  The Future: Pittsburgh rued the timing of Swaggerty’s injury as it cycled through center field options in the big leagues in 2021. He has the ceiling of a second-division starter if he can demonstrate more consistent hitting ability.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Pirates drafted Swaggerty 10th overall in 2018 and gave him a $4.4 million bonus based on the power-speed combination he showed at South Alabama. Swaggerty's speed has translated to pro ball, but his power has not. Swaggerty hit a combined .257/.339/.381 in his first two seasons, topping out at high Class A. The Pirates brought him to their alternate training site in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Swaggerty has the potential for average or better tools across the board, but he simply doesn't make enough contact. He tends to sell out for power, leading to a lot of swings and misses and a decline in his overall offensive game. Swaggerty worked to clean up his hitting mechanics, but the lost 2020 minor league season didn't give him a chance to show off the results of his work. He draws plenty of walks, which allows his plus speed to play on the bases. Swaggerty's defense is ahead of his offense. He's a plus defender with the range and above-average arm strength to be the Pirates' center fielder of the future.
  
  THE FUTURE: Swaggerty has to start making more contact. If he can, he has the tools to be an everyday outfielder.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Pirates drafted Swaggerty 10th overall in 2018 and gave him a $4.4 million bonus based on the power-speed combination he showed at South Alabama. Swaggerty's speed has translated to pro ball, but his power has not. Swaggerty hit a combined .257/.339/.381 in his first two seasons, topping out at high Class A. The Pirates brought him to their alternate training site in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Swaggerty has the potential for average or better tools across the board, but he simply doesn't make enough contact. He tends to sell out for power, leading to a lot of swings and misses and a decline in his overall offensive game. Swaggerty worked to clean up his hitting mechanics, but the lost 2020 minor league season didn't give him a chance to show off the results of his work. He draws plenty of walks, which allows his plus speed to play on the bases. Swaggerty's defense is ahead of his offense. He's a plus defender with the range and above-average arm strength to be the Pirates' center fielder of the future.
  
  THE FUTURE: Swaggerty has to start making more contact. If he can, he has the tools to be an everyday outfielder.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Pirates drafted Swaggerty 10th overall in 2018 and gave him a $4.4 million bonus based on the power-speed combination he showed at South Alabama. Swaggerty's speed has translated to pro ball, but his power has not. Swaggerty hit a combined .257/.339/.381 in his first two seasons, topping out at high Class A. The Pirates brought him to their alternate training site in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Swaggerty has the potential for average or better tools across the board, but he simply doesn't make enough contact. He tends to sell out for power, leading to a lot of swings and misses and a decline in his overall offensive game. Swaggerty worked to clean up his hitting mechanics, but the lost 2020 minor league season didn't give him a chance to show off the results of his work. He draws plenty of walks, which allows his plus speed to play on the bases. Swaggerty's defense is ahead of his offense. He's a plus defender with the range and above-average arm strength to be the Pirates' center fielder of the future.
  
  THE FUTURE: Swaggerty has to start making more contact. If he can, he has the tools to be an everyday outfielder.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Swaggerty emerged as a top draft prospect in 2018 after showing promising a power-speed combo at South Alabama, but some scouts had concerns after he hit just .296 playing against mid-major competition. The Pirates drafted Swaggerty 10th overall and signed him for $4.4 million. He showed bits of power and speed at high Class A Bradenton in his first full season, but he underwhelmed with his contact skills.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Swaggerty flashes average or better tools across the board, but he too often falls into the trap of selling out for power and swings and misses too often. Swaggerty’s power is only average, and he is at his best when he tones it down and focuses on making contact. Swaggerty hit just .219 with a 25-percent strikeout rate through June, but he recovered to bat .328 with an 18-percent strikeout rate the rest of the season, showing the bat-to-ball skills the Pirates believe is present when he takes the right approach. Swaggerty is an above-average defensive center fielder with an above-average arm and should stick at the position. He also is a plus runner capable of stealing 20-plus bases a year.
  
  THE FUTURE: Swaggerty hasn’t lived up to his draft slot, with his contact issues holding him back. He will try to carry his second-half improvement into 2020 with Double-A Altoona.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Swaggerty emerged as a top draft prospect in 2018 after showing promising a power-speed combo at South Alabama, but some scouts had concerns after he hit just .296 playing against mid-major competition. The Pirates drafted Swaggerty 10th overall and signed him for $4.4 million. He showed bits of power and speed at high Class A Bradenton in his first full season, but he underwhelmed with his contact skills.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Swaggerty flashes average or better tools across the board, but he too often falls into the trap of selling out for power and swings and misses too often. Swaggerty's power is only average, and he is at his best when he tones it down and focuses on making contact. Swaggerty hit just .219 with a 25-percent strikeout rate through June, but he recovered to bat .328 with an 18-percent strikeout rate the rest of the season, showing the bat-to-ball skills the Pirates believe is present when he takes the right approach. Swaggerty is an above-average defensive center fielder with an above-average arm and should stick at the position. He also is a plus runner capable of stealing 20-plus bases a year.
  
  THE FUTURE: Swaggerty hasn't lived up to his draft slot, with his contact issues holding him back. He will try to carry his second-half improvement into 2020 with Double-A Altoona.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Swaggerty was considered to have arguably the best combination of tools of any outfielder in the 2018 draft, with enough speed and arm strength to stay in center field and enough power and plate discipline to keep his bat in the lineup. The Pirates made him the No. 10 overall pick and signed him for a $4.4 million signing bonus. Swaggerty recorded more walks than strikeouts in each of his last two seasons at South Alabama while also registering double-digit home runs, although he hit just .296 against mid-major competition, raising some concerns about his overall hitting ability.