Cal League Class of 2003: Nick Swisher

Nick Swisher
5'11 210 DOB: 11/25/80
Outfielder
Bats: Switch | Throws: Left
2010: New York Yankees
Acquired: 2009 trade with Chicago White Sox (with Kanekoa Texeira for Jeff Marquez, Wilson Betemit and Jhonny Nunez)
Cal League career: 2002 with Visalia, 2003 with Modesto

Although he was born to a former Major Leaguer and quickly proved to be a dangerous collegiate hitter, Nick Swisher was not selected in the MLB Draft out of high school or even widely recruited to play college baseball. At Ohio State, a team coming off of a Super Regional appearance in 1999, Swisher won Big 10 Freshman of the Year in 2000 and later earned All-Big 10 honors in 2001 and 2002.

After a junior season where Swisher hit .348/.470/.620 to help the Buckeyes reach the CWS regionals, he was drafted 16th overall by the Oakland A's in the 2002 draft, which is the draft well known for being a central subject of the Michael Lewis book Moneyball. Coincidentally, Oakland chose Swisher with a pick they gained as compensation for Boston signing future teammate Johnny Damon. He signed for a 1.78 million dollar bonus and began his pro career in Vancouver, Oakland's Northwest League affiliate. The A's promoted him to Visalia for the stretch run after Swisher posted a .888 OPS in 13 games.

On the field, Nick Swisher is known for his power, plate discipline and the occasional strikeout. These were on display as he started his first full year of professional baseball in Modesto, Oakland's new California League affiliate. He hit 10 home runs in 41 games, and the A's promoted him to AA Midland. This is the first time in his pro career that Swisher struggled. He hit just .220 in 214 AB, striking out 60 times and only hitting four home runs.

After a nice showing in the Arizona Fall League at the end of the season, Swisher started 2004 at AAA Sacramento as Oakland's #6 prospect where he had a breakout season. Although he struck out 109 times, Swisher lead the minors in walks with 103 and hit 29 home runs. He was rewarded with a promotion to the big leagues, and on September 3rd, he made his major league debut, walking in his first at bat and later collecting his first hit. Swisher finished the season with a .769 OPS. His first home run came off Sean Douglass in his third game.

In his first full season, Swisher finished 6th in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. He was Oakland's starting right fielder and hit 21 home runs in 131 games. The next year was his breakout ML season. He split time between 1B and LF and hit a career high 35 home runs. He improved on his batting average, OBP and set career highs in runs, hits and RBI. Although his power dipped a little in 2007, Swisher posted another very good season which included a five year contract extension. However in January of 2008, Swisher was traded to the White Sox for prospects Fautino De Los Santos, Gio Gonzalez and Ryan Sweeney. De Los Santos has battled injuries, and Gonzalez and Sweeney are both mainstays with the A's.

His stay in Chicago did not last long. 2008 proved to be the worst season of Swisher's career. He played mostly 1B and CF again but posted a career low in batting average. Although he hit 24 home runs, his playing time was reduced late in the season as the White Sox made a successful push to win the AL Central. In the offseason, he was traded to the Yankees for veteran Wilson Betemit plus prospects Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez. Betemit did not last a full season in Chicago, and Marquez and Nunez have struggled in the minors. The Yankees also acquired pitcher Kanekoa Texeira in the trade who was lost in the 2009 rule 5 draft to Seattle.

Early in the 2009 season, it appeared that Swisher would come off the bench with the Yankees. However, Xavier Nady suffered an elbow injury which allowed Swisher to get into the every day lineup. He enjoyed a nice bounce back season, maybe his best in the majors. Swisher finished with career highs in slugging and OPS. His batting averaged improved by 30 points and despite some struggles in the postseason, eventually had a couple key hits to help the Yankees win the World Series. In 2010, Swisher remains the Yankees' right fielder. His personality has helped him become a fan favorite and loosen up the Yankees' clubhouse. His contract runs through 2011 with a club option for 2012.

Cal League Class of... is a series of posts I'm going to do throughout the season. I have a list of 76 current major leaguers that I'll randomly select from whenever I want to do a new one in the series. I'm also planning some posts on Cal Leaguers that made the Hall of Fame, prospects that are still in the minors and maybe some on defunct teams and old season recaps.