Newest Yankees Tate and Swanson To Join RiverDogs

KANNAPOLIS, NC - With the Yankees restocking their Minor League system, two key pieces of the blockbuster deal with the Rangers will begin their careers in pinstripes with the Charleston RiverDogs. The Yankees have announced that former fourth overall pick Dillon Tate, a right-handed pitcher, and righty Erik Swanson have each been assigned to Class A Charleston and will join the club after reporting to the Yankees.

Both Tate and Swanson were acquired by the Yankees along with RHP Nick Green in the deal that sent veteran outfielder Carlos Beltran to the Texas Rangers on Monday afternoon just before the non-waiver trade deadline. Tate and Swanson each began the year with the Rangers' South Atlantic League affiliate, the Hickory Crawdads.

Tate, 22, joins the RiverDogs after making 17 appearances mostly as a starter with the Crawdads, accruing a 3-3 record with a 5.12 ERA. The Rangers' first round pick in the 2015 draft struck out 55 batters while walking 27 in 65 innings and 16 starts. Tate's only relief outing came against the RiverDogs on May 9 at The Joe when the 6'2", 165 pound righty lasted just 1/3 of an inning, giving up three runs on three hits with a pair of walks and a strikeout after a surprise entry into the ballgame when he was slated to start for Hickory the next day. The preseason No. 4 prospect in Texas' system, Tate has been ranked the Yankees' 11^th best prospect by the MLB Pipeline.

Originally selected out of UC Santa Barbara by Texas, the Claremont, CA native had a superb rookie campaign in 2015, allowing just a run in six starts spanning nine innings of work split between Short Season Spokane and Class A Hickory. Prior to signing with the Rangers, Tate spent three seasons with the Gauchos and was a dominant strikeout per inning force as either a starter or reliever.

After pitching just three innings his freshman year in 2013, Tate earned 12 saves as the team's closer as a sophomore while posting a miniscule 1.45 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 43.1 innings. Tate also made 11 appearances for the USA Collegiate National in the summer of 2014, picking up three saves with a 0.79 ERA while allowing seven hits and striking out seven in 11.1 innings. Tate transitioned into the Gauchos' Friday starter in 2015, going 8-5 with a 2.26 ERA in 14 starts in 2015 to earn consensus All-American honors while being named a Golden Spikes Award finalist. He continued to pile up the Ks even as a starter, racking up 111 punch outs that ranked 22^nd in the nation in 103.1 innings to go along with 28 walks.

Swanson, 22, an eighth rounder by the Rangers in 2014, was having a solid campaign in his third year in the minors with the Rangers before being traded, holding a 6-4 record with a 3.43 ERA with the Crawdads. Named a South Atlantic League Mid-Season All-Star, the 6'3", 220 pound righty has posted 78 strikeouts in 81.1 innings to go along with 25 walks this season.

Originally drafted out of Iowa Western Community College, the Terrace Park, Ohio native is now in his third year in the minors, making appearances as high up as Triple-A where he pitched one inning for the Round Rock Express in 2015 and another inning in Double-A Frisco that same season.

With two new pitchers joining the RiverDogs and the roster already at the league maximum, 25, the Yankees will announce two need to announce two corresponding roster moves before the duo reports to Charleston. Both rightys are slated to make their Yankees debuts on Friday at Riley Park. In the meantime, the RiverDogs continue their three-game road stint in Kannapolis, facing off against the Intimidators, the Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, on Tuesday night with the first pitch set for 7:05pm. After wrapping up the series on Wednesday, the RiverDogs will be back at The Joe for a weeklong homestand from August 4-10 hosting Greenville and Rome.

Ticket information for the RiverDogs' upcoming homestand and any of the remaining home games can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com. RiverDogs playoff tickets for game two of the SAL Divisional Series on Friday, September 9 are now available. Those that can't make it to the park can follow every pitch of the RiverDogs season on WTMA 1250 AM and streaming online at riverdogs.com.