Swarmer named Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Month

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (May 4, 2018) - Myrtle Beach Pelicans right-handed pitcher Matt Swarmer has been named the Chicago Cubs' Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April, the organization announced Friday. Former Pelicans outfielder Jeffrey Baez earned the Cubs' Minor League Player of the Month award.
Swarmer went 2-2 with a 1.74 ERA over four starts in the month of April for the Pelicans, ceding just four earned runs in 20.2 innings. The Mohnton, Pa., native struck out 26 against just three walks over the month, with his 1.74 ERA ranking as the fifth-best in the Carolina League if he had enough innings to qualify. Swarmer's 1.52 FIP leads the circuit among pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched.

Chicago's 19th-round pick in 2016, Swarmer fired six shutout innings on April 22 against Down East, fanning seven while not walking a batter. The right-hander has struck out at least five opponents in each of his four starts, matching a career-high with eight over just five innings on April 16 at Buies Creek.
A product of Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, Swarmer is spending his first season in Myrtle Beach. In 2017, the righty went 7-5 with a 4.71 ERA over 24 appearances (12 starts) between Short Season Class A Eugene, Low-A South Bend, Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa.
A member of the Pelicans' 2015 and 2016 championship squads, respectively, Baez slashed .241/.324/.363 with 15 doubles, three triple, eight home runs and 45 RBIs in 113 games with Myrtle Beach in 2016 after just playing five games with the Birds in 2015. Signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent in 2010 out of Venezuela, the outfielder took home a Player of the Week award in the Carolina League during the 2016 season. From August 1-7, Baez hit .478 (11-for-23) with two doubles, three home runs and 11 RBIs. This month with the Smokies, Baez batted .411 (23-for-56) with seven doubles, one triple, three homers, 15 RBIs and seven runs scored in 21 April contests.
Swarmer will make the start for Pelicans in Saturday's 6 p.m. contest at Lynchburg from Calvin Falwell Field at Lynchburg City Stadium.
The 2018 season is the 20th season for the Pelicans franchise and fourth as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For tickets visit MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/tickets, call (843) 918-6000, or visit the Pelicans Box Office.
ABOUT THE PELICANS: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and play their home games at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The park has ranked in the top eight in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey in six of the last seven seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences and the best in the Carolina League for six of the past seven seasons as well. In June 2017, TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark won the 2017 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. The Pelicans have won four Mills Cup Championships, including claims to back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000, and again in 2015 and 2016. The Pelicans have made 11 postseason appearances behind 13 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season, second half of 2016 and first half of 2017. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or emailing [email protected].