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MLB

Saturday Spotlight: Matt McSwain

By Mike Janela
May 24, 2008
This week's Saturday Spotlight features Hickory relief pitcher Matt McSwain. The right-hander has pitched brilliantly for the Crawdads this year, going 2-0 with a 0.98 ERA in 18.1 innings. The Sophia, NC, native also appeared in 15 games for Hickory in 2007 and most recently was promoted to Class-A Advanced Lynchburg for a two-week stint.

To hear Matt talk about his golf game in more detail and share what it's like to play playing less than two hours away from his home town, be sure to click on the audio link to the right.


Well Matt, what's it been like for you this season so far, how have you been in 2008?

It's been good. I've had the fortune of throwing really well so far and got to go up to Lynchburg for a couple weeks. So all in all, you know, it's been a pretty good season so far.

The numbers probably not what you would have liked up in Lynchburg [Ed.'s note: McSwain went 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA in six appearances and 10.1 innings with the Hillcats], but how was your experience being up at that level?

I was disappointed and not disappointed after my stint up there. I had two outings that weren't so good, but had two or three outings that were really good. So as a reliever if you have one or two bad outings your ERA skyrockets and you have that. But I enjoyed Lynchburg, a little bit better hitters. Got to see some guys from last year's draft, some good players -- first-rounders and guys that Frederick had, including Matt Wieters. [Ed.'s Note: Frederick Keys is the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and catcher Matt Wieters was taken with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2007 draft.] It was a little different but all in all I was pleased with how things went up there.

This is your second stint in Hickory in two seasons, so you've gotten to know the town a bit. What do you like to do around town when you're away from the diamond?

For the most part here, I'm a big golfer. Rock Barn Golf & Spa is right down the road and we're able to get out there so I spend as much time there as possible. If I'm not on the golf course, with a lot of the guys we like to go out to a Wild Wings after the game or any place like that. Just get something to eat and hang out after the games. They've also got a nice movie theater here, too. You know, just anything around -- restaurants, go to the mall, stuff like that.

How good of a golfer are you?

[Chuckles] Depends on what day it is. You mentioned going to the movie theater around here, any favorite movies you like?

I'm a big "300" fan and movies like that. "Gladiator," too. I want to see "Ironman" and there's a movie that's kinda old that I want to see, "10,000 B.C."

And if it wasn't for baseball, what do you think you'd be doing career-wise?

That's a good question. Probably something still in sports because that's all I've ever done. I'd like to just do something in sports. I'd prefer it being something on the field or on the court, I like basketball and stuff like that. Coaching would be great, I'd love that. Any kind of coaching -- you get to interact and still be around the game, whether it be baseball, basketball, golf or whatever. You get to be around the game and not have the pressures of actually being in the game.