Michael Schwimer to Make MLB Debut with Philadelphia Phillies

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Former Virginia right-handed pitcher Michael Schwimer has been called up to the major leagues for the first time by the Philadelphia Phillies and will be in uniform and available to pitch this evening. Schwimer pitched for the Cavaliers from 2005-08.

The Phillies take on the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:05 p.m. this evening at Citizens Bank Park in a matchup of division leaders. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN.

Schwimer is the third former Cavalier to earn his first major-league call-up this season. Outfielder Brandon Guyer made his debut with Tampa Bay on May 6, while pitcher Mike Ballard earned his first call-up with Baltimore on July 31. It marks the first time three former UVa players have earned their first trips to the majors in the same season.

A 14th-round pick in the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Phillies, Schwimer is the 29th former Cavalier to reach the major leagues. He joins Javier Lopez (San Francisco Giants), Mark Reynolds (Baltimore Orioles) and Ryan Zimmerman (Washington Nationals) as Cavaliers who currently are competing in Major League Baseball.

Schwimer was a Triple-A All-Star this season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and owns a 9-1 record with a 1.88 earned run average and 10 saves. In 67.0 innings (46 appearances), he allowed just 14 earned runs, 50 hits and 22 walks while striking out 86. Batters are hitting only .202 against Schwimer – right-handed hitters are batting a miniscule .135 against him. He also was named an Eastern League All-Star (AA) in 2010.

Schwimer was just named the Phillies’ Minor League Pitcher of the Month for July after going 3-1 with a 1.15 ERA and four saves in 11 appearances during the month.

Schwimer played at Virginia from 2005-08. He went 9-3 with a 3.26 ERA and 16 saves during his tenure with the Cavaliers. He flourished in the closer role as a senior, going 3-1 with 14 saves while opponents his just .178 against him. At that time in 2008, Schwimer tied the UVa single-season record for saves.