Swilling gets started with pro career
It’s been an eventful past three weeks for former Columbus High and Samford University baseball player Hunter Swilling.
Swilling, a third baseman, was selected in the 29th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Detroit Tigers earlier this month. He just completed his junior season at Samford and was the third Bulldog player to be selected, with teammates Heath Quinn and Alex Lee picked in the third and 22nd rounds, respectively.
“They didn’t call my name (right away), so I was wondering ‘wow, am I not going to get picked?’ ” Swilling said. “Then Detroit called and I was really excited. I took the opportunity and I’m really excited to be part of such a well-known program with the Tigers.”
Swilling batted .292 with Samford this past season with 12 home runs and 58 runs batted in. He was fourth in the nation with 25 doubles. He was named Southern Conference Player of the Week in late May after hitting .429 in four games with a whopping 1.071 slugging percentage on five extra-base hits.
A 2013 graduate of Columbus High, Swilling had a chance to hone his craft in the area under two of the most successful coaches in recent history in high school baseball: first with Tony Rasmus at Russell County, then his junior and senior years as a Blue Devil with now-Central coach Bobby Howard.
“I give credit to Tony Rasmus. I started off at Russell County and he really taught me how to work hard,” Swilling said. “My work ethic in the weight room and on the field taught me to be a better player. Coach Howard really taught me more about life and fundamentals and how to approach the game on a daily basis. He gave me more of a mental approach with a fundamental background, while Coach Rasmus taught me work ethic.
“It’s awesome. Both coaches have been there. They have different philosophies on how to play to game. To have experience with two coaches who are really known throughout the nation under the high school spotlight really helped a lot. When I got to Columbus (High), I started growing more as a person than on the baseball field. It really helped me know what to expect when I got on the college level. Both men played a huge impact on my success.”
After signing with the Tigers, Swilling reported to the team’s workout facility in Lakeland, Fla., but didn’t stay there long. The next week, he reported to Norwich, Conn., to join Detroit’s short season Class A level affiliate, the Connecticut Tigers.
He joined former Columbus High teammate Josh Lester on the Connecticut Tigers. Lester was drafted by the Tigers in 2015 out of Missouri.
“I signed on a Friday, played in an intrasquad game down (in Lakeland), got called in the manager’s office and was told I’m headed to short season A ball on Wednesday,” Swilling said.
Since arriving in Connecticut, Swilling says it’s been a whirlwind experience. Swilling has played in four games and has a pair of hits and two RBIs.
“Ever since then, it’s just been late nights, early mornings, working out, playing baseball and traveling,” he said.
This story was originally published June 29, 2016 at 7:33 PM with the headline "Swilling gets started with pro career."