Dave Swanson

Dave Swanson

Head Field & Pitching Coordinator of SB Programs

Dave is a former professional baseball player and spent the 2013 & 2014 seasons serving as the Cleveland Indians Pitching Rehab Coordinator/Assistant Rookie Pitching Coach.

He was selected in the 9th round (251st overall) of the 1991 Free Agent Draft by the New York Mets out of Berlin High School, and spent his 11-year career with Mets, Rockies, and Red Sox MLB organizations, along with playing independently with the Amarillo Dillas, Waterbury Spirit, and Bridgeport Bluefish.

While at BHS he was named the 1991 Gatorade Player of the Year for Connecticut and Gatorade Player of the Year for New England.

During his playing career he pitched in 234 games, starting 146, had a career record of 58-48 (27-21), logged 1044 innings, and had a 3.78 ERA.

He was dealt to the Colorado Rockies as part of the Brett Saberhagen trade in 1995.

Following his 11-year playing career, “Swanny” earned a Communications degree at CCSU, leading to a nine-year run working as the K-Zone Producer for ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. Along with his time at ESPN he developed Swanson’s Professional Baseball Instruction, LLC, which now enters its 16th season in business.

About to enter his fifth year back at ESPN since his time with the Indians (and 14th overall), he continues to produce the KZone and provide Pitcher Scouting Reports for the Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday Night telecasts, working with former Major League All Star Alex Rodriguez, former MLB veteran Eduardo Perez, former World Series Champion David Ross, former Cy Young winner Rick Sutcliffe, and former USA Olympian Softball star Jessica Mendoza.

Through the SB program Swanny and his staff have worked with more than 120 students who have gone on to play at the collegiate level, along with 10 students who played or are currently playing at the professional level. Berlin’s own Matt Carasiti (MLB-Colorado Rockies, and currently w/Chicago Cubs) & Anthony Marzi (NY Yankees and currently w/Minnesota Twins organization), Southington’s Sal Romano (currently MLB w/Cincinnati Reds), and Newington's Mike Hepple (NY Mets and currently w/Quebec Capitales) are the most recent Swanson students/instructors who are currently playing professionally.