Indians News: Cleveland Sells Contract of Anthony Swarzak to KBO’s Doosan Bears

Former Tribe reliever heads to the KBO’s Doosan Bears

When a player is having a hard time catching on permanently with a team, he can rack up some travel miles between the big league club and the minors–and generally on a bus. Former

‘ reliever

is going to wish he did more flying for the miles, as he’s headed to the Korean Baseball Organization’s Doosan Bears.

In 2013, Swarzak was one of the best relievers in all of baseball with the Minnesota Twins, posting a 2.91 ERA, and led all relievers with 96 innings pitched. The former Baseball America Top 100 prospect (Barely. He was No. 100) never caught on as a starter, but after 2013 looked to have found his place in the Twins bullpen.

2014 didn’t bring the same results, eventually leading the Twins to non-tender Swarzak which led to him signing a minor-league deal with the Indians. After a solid Spring Training, Swarzak made the club and posted respectable numbers, allowing just five earned runs over 13 1/3 innings while striking out 13. But the Tribe pitching staff has had it’s fair share of shuffling this season and he became part of it. He was designated for assignment in may, and shortly after given his outright release.

In his career, he’s a 4.45 career ERA guy with 453 innings under his belt. He’ll be taking the place of another former major leaguer in Yunesky Maya, who saw limited innings with the Washington Nationals from 2010 to 2013. Maya had thrown a no-hitter earlier this season but holds an 8.17 ERA.

The Bears had reportedly been interested in Swarzak previously before he signed the deal with the Indians. The 29-year-old Swarzak now makes the trip to Korea to start a new chapter in his baseball career.