Jonathan Schwind

WTM’S PLAYER PROFILE

2011
R:  347/456/589, 124 AB, 14 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 13 BB, 24 K, 4-5 SB

Had little trouble hitting the younger pitchers in the GCL.  He fanned once every five ABs, which could be a warning sign.  Schwind threw out 26% of base stealers, which isn’t bad for a guy being converted to catcher.

2012
R:  240/345/320, 25 AB, 2 2B, 3 BB, 6 K, 0-2 SB
A-:  118/184/176, 34 AB, 1 3B, 2 BB, 7 K
A:  206/270/206, 34 AB, 2 BB, 11 K, 2-2 SB 

Schwind’s 2012 season was largely lost to injury and other circumstances.  He started off as the backup catcher at West Virginia.  He struggled there both offensively and defensively–he didn’t throw out any of the 15 runners who tried to steal on him–and was sent back to extended spring training after about a month.  He got hurt, though, and eventually rehabbed in the GCL.  It was late August when he made it to State College, where he split ten games between catcher and the outfield.

2013
A:  216/297/280, 232 AB, 9 2B, 2 HR, 25 BB, 56 K, 11-12 SB

Schwind spent the season at West Virginia.  Even after Wyatt Mathisen got hurt, Francisco Diaz and Kawika Emsley-Pai did the catching.  Schwind played left almost exclusively and caught in only one game.  He struggled at the plate, aside from having a good walk rate.

2014
R:  167/286/167, 6 AB, 1 BB, 1 K, 1-1 SB
A+:  289/346/416, 166 AB, 8 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 14 BB, 38 K, 4-10 SB

The Pirates sent Schwind to Bradenton, where he played the outfield corners and DH.  He hit much better than the previous year and eventually won a regular job, but he got hurt at the beginning of July and returned only for a couple of rehab appearances in the GCL at season’s end.

2015
R:  333/333/333, 3 AB, 1 K
R+:  143/217/190, 21 AB, 1 2B, 1 BB, 7 K
AA:  109/160/196, 46 AB, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 BB, 15 K, 2-2 SB

Schwind opened the season at Altoona in a utility role, but got hurt and missed much of the season.  He rehabbed in July and then spent the last month back with the Curve.  He played strictly in the outfield, other than pitching in three games.  The Pirates, over the last several years, have become very comfortable with letting position players pitch rather than getting out of their bullpen rotation, even with games on the line in minor league pennant races.

2016
AA:  236/326/345, 165 AB, 7 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 21 BB, 40 K, 2-4 SB
AAA:  000/000/000, 3 AB, 1 K

Except for one brief stint filling in at Indianapolis, Schwind spent the season as a utility player with Altoona.  He got a good bit of playing time, playing all three outfield positions and also pitching five times in mopup roles.  (In four and two-thirds innings, Schwind walked five, but allowed just one hit and no runs.  After eight games, his career ERA is 0.00.)  He held his own at the plate, drawing walks at a good clip and showing a little power.  He didn’t do much against RHPs, but had an OPS of .866 in 62 plate appearances against RHPs.

2017
A-:  571/625/857, 7 AB, 2 2B, 1 BB
AA:  353/389/824, 17 AB, 2 2B, 2 HR, 1 BB, 4 K, 1-4 SB

Schwind missed most of the season with an oblique injury that he then aggravated during rehab.  He didn’t join Altoona until August 8 and served mainly as a pinch hitter after that.

Schwind will be a free agent in the fall.  Given the nature of his career with the Pirates, it’s possible they may see him as a coach or in some other long-term role off the field.