The Texas Rangers selected pitcher Erik Swanson in the eighth round of the amateur draft in 2014. Dustin Smith was the scout.
In order to sign, he turned down a scholarship offer from the University of Pittsburgh. He debuted in the Northwest League with the Spokane Indians in 2014, going 1-2 with a 4.63 ERA in 16 games as a reliever.
He stopped with the AZL Rangers, Hickory Crawdads, Frisco Rough Riders, and Round Rock Express in 2015, and played in the four main levels of the minor league ladder – Rookie Class, Class A AA, and AAA – while playing only 10 games.
He only pitched in one game each in the Arizona League, Texas League, and Pacific Coast League, and he went 1-0 with a 2.35 ERA in 10 innings.
Due to an injury, his season was cut short. He was moved back to Hickory in 2016, where he was now a starter. He finished 6-4 with a 3.43 ERA in 19 games, striking out 78 batters in 81 1/3 innings.
He was selected to pitch in the All-Star Game of the South Atlantic League.
He was one of three prospects traded to the New York Yankees in exchange for veteran OF Carlos Beltran on August 1, 2016, along with Dillon Tate and Nick Green.
In 5 games with the Charleston RiverDogs, still in the Sally League, he went 0-1, 4.20.
How Old Is Erik Swanson?
Erik Swanson is 28 years old. He was born on September 4, 1993.