Chris Schwinden's magical mystery tour of Triple-A baseball has come full circle and he rejoined the Bisons Thursday in Syracuse.
Schwinden, you may recall, was Buffalo's most valuable pitcher last season and the Herd's lone representative to the Triple-A All-Star Game in Salt Lake City.
Schwinden was 3-4 with a 2.59 ERA in nine starts for Buffalo this season as he suffered from terrible run support. He was 0-2, 11.25 in two starts with the Mets in the middle of that stint and even had an adventurous trip back to Buffalo after being in Toronto and Pittsburgh with the big club.
Schwinden got another recall before getting designated for assignment June 1 after giving up two runs in two-thirds of an inning in a relief stint against the Phillies.
After that, Schwinden became Mr. DFA.
The Blue Jays claimed him off waivers and sent him to Las Vegas. They put him back on waivers after he gave up seven runs in three innings June 3 against Reno. Schwinden never got to make his next start in Fresno, near his hometown of Visalia, and had reportedly purchased a few dozen tickets for family and friends. Yikes.
The Indians took him next, and Schwinden was 1-2, 5.87 in three outings at Columbus. DFA again.
The Yankees signed him for Scranton. He went 0-1 with three earned runs in four innings July 1 against Rochester. DFA Again.
Now the Mets have reclaimed him and put him back in Buffalo. That's one crazy month. Put him in the Herd rotation and keep him there and he'll probably be overjoyed. He might even produce.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
