Woodstown’s Chase Swain is looking to make an impression, increase draft stock, playing in the MLB Draft League
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
TRENTON – All Chase Swain has ever wanted since he was an 8-year-old swinging away in the local Little League is a chance to play in the big leagues. He’s closer to that dream today than he has ever been before, and with a productive next couple of weeks and a little good fortune he could be even closer still.
The former Woodstown standout just completed his first week with the undefeated Trenton Thunder of the MLB Draft League where prospects already on the radar of major-league scouts put their skill on display in the run up to next month’s amateur draft.
Swain has played summer league ball before, but not with stakes this high. As an older prospect he doesn’t have as much leverage as the kids coming out of high school, but he just wants a shot.
“The competition is definitely a bit of a step up,” he said. “It’s kind of cool because everybody’s got the same goal. In summer leagues prior I feel like some guys are trying to kind of sharpen their tools and get ready for school, but these guys are trying to be seen to get a call in July. It’s a step up in competition but at the end of the day it’s just baseball. It’s the same game. You can’t make it more than it is because once you start making it more than it is and start thinking about July you kind of forget what you’re doing it for.
“Of course I want a call in July like anybody else. I’m doing it for the 8-year-old kid of me that was dreaming of things like this. Looking up in the crowd last night, it was Little League Night and they had a ton of promotions and there were kids when I was there age I was walking around the outfield and now I’m one of those guys. I dreamed of being in that position. I’m really blessed to be in the position that I am now and forever comes comes. It’s God’s plan. It’s really cool.”
The clock, of course, is ticking. His contract with the Thunder expires July 5. That’s 29 games to make a final impression.
If Swain does go in the draft, the guess is between Rounds 10 and 20, depending on how well he does here. If he doesn’t, there’s always the free agent route. He’s already had invites for private workouts from a couple undisclosed teams. If he is drafted, he’ll be the first player from Salem County to go since Pennsville’s Max Dineen was taken in the 35th round by the Reds in 2018.
Until then, it’s wait and hope and continue to work.
“I can’t predict the future, but as long as I continue to do what I’ve done the last four years of my career I think a back-end draft of a free agent signing is totally in my cards,” he said. “Professional baseball is what I want to do. I don’t want to go get a ‘real’ job, but at the same time I’ve put a very, very strong college career together and I’m throwing it all the wall right now.”
He’s off to a slow start at the plate – just 1-for-11 going into Tuesday’s first road game at the West Virginia Black Bears – but he hasn’t seen live pitching since the end of his college season at LaSalle. Still, he continues to put in the work at the ballpark as if he’s hitting .400 – he had 250 hits in his college career — and even though his average is down he’s shown his versatility by playing multiple positions in the field and done some neat things on and off the field every night to endear himself to his new team and its fans.
He led off the Thunder’s season opener with a walk, quickly stole second and scored their first run of the season. The next night he delivered a go-ahead two-run single that put the Thunder up 3-2, was named Player of the Game and then spent time after the game visiting with fans and signing autographs until they closed the gates. He has three stolen bases.
“I haven’t seen live pitching in a little while, but I’m trusting what I’ve got works,” he said. “At the end of the day it’s baseball. I know I’m going to get going, just trust what I got and enjoy the moment.
“You’re not guaranteed tomorrow. You’re not guaranteed a spot in July, so I’m just being where my feet are and enjoying the moment. I’m not trying to make this more than it is. I’m not trying to feel all the pressure, even though pressure is a privilege, at the same time I’m just trying to have fun, be with my teammates and work hard.
“I can’t be mad at myself if I feel like I did everything I can to prepare for tonight’s game. All I can control is if I’m going in there competing and that’s what we’re going to go do. I’m going to the yard to compete tonight.”
Caught in the Draft
Here is a list of Salem County players taken in the MLB Draft over the years
| YEAR | PLAYER | TEAM | RD | LEV |
| 2018 | Max Dineen, Pennsville | Reds | 35 | |
| 2016 | Mike Shawaryn, Carneys Point (Maryland) | Red Sox | 5 | MLB |
| 2016 | Troy Sieber, Salem (St. Leo) | Astros | 24 | A |
| 2013 | Mike Shawaryn, Carneys Point (Gloucester Cath) | Royals | 32 | |
| 2000 | Mark Freed, Pennsville (Miss. State) | Cubs | 24 | AAA |
| 1996 | Mark Freed, Pennsville | Pirates | 24 | |
| 1984 | Lex Bleckley, Pennsville (Delaware) | Expos | 18 | A |
| 1981 | Lex Bleckley, Pennsville | Royals | 13 | |
| 1969 | Bobby Gallagher, Pennsville | Reds | 8 | AA |
| 1968 | Lee Ware, Salem (Rowan) | Twins | 31 | A |
Top photo: Chase Swain draws a walk in his first at-bat of the season with Trenton Thunder of the MLB Draft League. He later stole second and scored the team’s first run of the season. (Photo by Michael Olechowski)
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