Here’s a recent scouting report on Roosevelt High School baseball play John Swanda:
2017 National Pre-Draft Showcase – May 15, 2017
John Swanda is a 2017 RHP/SS with a 6-2 185 lb. frame from Des Moines, IA. Large frame with a lean, athletic build and wiry strength. Frame projects to support additional size with strength. Primary right-handed pitcher with a smooth-paced, sidestep delivery. Stays balanced at gather with slight coil. Uses lower half well while working to the plate and driving off back side. Lands in line with the plate and carries momentum to target well. Long arm circle back at separation and released from a clean three-quarters arm slot, creates very good arm speed through extension. Fastball comes out of hands cleanly with heavy running action, topped at 91 miles per hour. Shows good feel for fastball with the ability to consistently work to each edge of the plate. Curveball had 10/4 shape with tight spin and late depth in the mid 70’s. Maintained arm speed with a changeup offering that had some running action to arm side in the upper 70’s. Primarily depends on fastball to work ahead of hitters, but will throw backwards when needed. Also hit from the right side of the plate showing a spread, even stance and simple leg lift trigger. Repeated a simple line drive path to contact with the ability to hit to all fields with pop. Consistently delivered barrel to baseball with good strength at bat speed that produced hard rising line drives. Very good student (emphasis added). Named to the 2017 National Pre-Draft Top Prospect List.
Wow! No wonder he was just named the Gatorade Iowa Baseball Player of the Year!
John committed to play college baseball for the University of Nebraska last year when he led Roosevelt to the state tournament, but the 2017 professional baseball draft (officially known as the Rule 4 Draft) is scheduled for June 12 and, depending on where he’s selected, Swanda’s post-high school route may take a detour. If not, he’ll join a Cornhusker program that won the regular season Big 10 title this spring and was ranked in the top 25 until they were upset in the Big 10 tournament by an Iowa team that includes a former Roughrider teammate of Swanda’s, Hawkeye freshman centerfielder Ben Norman.
On June 12 Roosevelt plays at North. That might be the biggest day in Swanda’s young life – since he graduated from high school last weekend.
In the meantime, congratulations on the prestigious recognition from Gatorade!