Former Pirates 1st-round pick Travis Swaggerty pumped to get call-up, ready for MLB debut

Travis Swaggerty was getting dressed in his Indianapolis Indians uniform Saturday when he felt a tap on the shoulder. Manager Miguel Perez wanted to see the outfielder into his office.

“He talked to me about (how) I was playing well and what I can improve on and all that,” Swaggerty said. “And he’s like, ‘Think you can do it in the big leagues?’ I was like, ‘Uhhhhh … I think so.’ And he’s like, ‘Well, you’re going.’ It was awesome. It was an incredible moment.”

It was a long time coming for Swaggerty, 24, who was drafted No. 10 overall by the Pirates in 2018 out of South Alabama. When Swaggerty arrived at PNC Park on Sunday, he told Pirates manager Derek Shelton that he’d been awake since 3 a.m. and was working on one hour of sleep.

Travis Swaggerty is in the building. pic.twitter.com/vyY2TlR7Iv

— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) June 5, 2022

Swaggy. pic.twitter.com/AbC0iOnqNP

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 5, 2022

So Swaggerty rode the rush of adrenaline that comes with making a major league debut. He wore No. 50, a jersey number that once belonged to another Pirates former first-round pick, Jameson Taillon.

“I gave him a big ol’ hug, told him congratulations and said, ‘You’re a big leaguer for life. You did it,’ ” said Pirates outfielder Cal Mitchell, Swaggerty’s minor league teammate at Altoona and Indianapolis.

Unfortunately, Swaggerty never left the dugout during the Pirates’ 3-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, a game in which he saw Mitchell hit his first major league home run. Not playing didn’t put a damper on Swaggerty’s day, even if he’ll have to wait until Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers to make his major league debut.

“The best feeling in the world to be here, absolutely,” Swaggerty said. “After everything I’ve been through to scratch and claw my way back, this is amazing. And, yes, I was champing at the bit to get in there. But it’s OK. We won, so I’ll take a win any day the week.”

Pirates OF Travis Swaggerty was ready to make his MLB debut but wasn’t complaining about being stuck in the dugout in the 3-0 win. pic.twitter.com/jcVjpYkZNj

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) June 5, 2022

Swaggerty’s path to PNC Park had its share of obstacles. After drawing more walks (54) than strikeouts (38) in his junior season at South Alabama, he batted .239 with 58 strikeouts and 22 walks in his first season, split between short-season and Class A.

Considered one of the best college hitters in the draft, Swaggerty was slow to show his bat in the minors. He hit .265 with 20 doubles, nine home runs and 40 RBIs in 121 games at High-A Bradenton in 2019, then spent the following season at the alternate training site in Altoona. Swaggerty played in only 12 games last season after undergoing surgery on his right (non-throwing) shoulder. Even so, the Pirates protected him by placing Swaggerty on the 40-man roster last fall.

An injury to his left (throwing) shoulder kept Swaggerty from playing the field this spring, so he started the season as a designated hitter until he was healed. Swaggerty slashed .280/.362/.439 with five doubles, two triples, four home runs and 22 RBIs in 35 games at Triple-A Indianapolis to earn a promotion. The Pirates optioned infielder Rodolfo Castro to make room on the 26-man active roster for Swaggerty.

“Happy for Travis,” Shelton said. “He’s been through a lot over the last 12 months. Comes into spring training, he’s behind, he can only DH, he’s doing a throwing program. He gets off to a tough start then makes some adjustments and over the last three weeks has probably been our best player in the minor leagues.”