LATEST PG SHOWCASE REPORT
2006 National Showcase
D.J. Swatscheno is a 2007 left hand pticher from Flanagan HS, residing in Pembroke Pines, FL. He has a strong, lean, athletic build on his 6'2" 190 lb. frame that still has room to fill out and get stronger. Swatscheno was one of the more complete pitchers in the event, one of a number of high quality lefties with good stuff and excellent feel. He was ranked #22 among PG National Top 85 pitchers and looks like he is going to win a a lot of games in his future. Swatscheno pitches from an over the top slot with a quick, clean arm action. He starts his delivery with an over the head wind-up, creating good rhythm that works well for the athletic lefty. His fastball touched up to 90 and he pitched in the 87-89 range. Swatscheno can pitch in and out with his fastball, which he uses well to set up his high quality secondary pitches. His curveball is a plus pitch not only because of the quality of its action, but because of the way he pitches with it. Swatscheno ranged his curveball velocity from 72-80 mph and also showed the ability to change it's shape. It would be easy to say that the higher velocity breaking balls were slider, but they were still big and shaped like curveballs. He throws that pitch with plus spin and gets hard downward bite, at all speeds. Swatscheno can use his curveball as an out pitch or he can pitch with it, stealing strikes and throwing it in fastball counts. His 80 mph change-up is also a quality offering. He gets good movement on the change-up and threw it with good feel. Swatscheno has the repertoire and pitchability that all should make him a big winner, likely at a top D1 program first, then in pro ball. He is going to get some area scout attention this spring, especially if he makes a move to the 88-92 range with his fastball, while maintaining the quality of his secondary stuff. He is a good one.