Penguin ace to join Orioles

June 16, 2010 at 12:07a.m.

By Joe Scalzo

YOungstown

Former Youngstown State University pitcher Aaron Swenson was all set to wake up early Tuesday, hop in his car and make a 15-hour drive from Twinsburg to South Dakota to begin his professional baseball career as a member of the Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasants.

Then he got a call from a slightly better-known bird-based baseball team — the Baltimore Orioles.

Swenson flew to Sarasota, Fla., on Tuesday night and will sign a free agent contract with the Gulf Coast Orioles today.

“It’s all happened so fast, I haven’t really got a chance to think about it, but I’m very excited,” said Swenson, who spoke by phone Tuesday evening while waiting for his flight at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. “This kind of came to me at the last minute and I’m just going to do the best I can.”

After a terrific four-year career with the Penguins, Swenson went undrafted last week and was hoping to parlay his experience in the independent league into a minor league gig.

But YSU coaches Rich Pasquale and Tom Lipari spent the last week working the phones with their pro contacts, hoping someone would give Swenson a chance.

Finally, the Orioles said yes.

“Coach Pasquale basically set this up for me; they’re basically signing me based on his word,” Swenson said. “And Lipari spent some time in the minors [in the Cubs and Astros organizations] and he knows a lot of people, so he played a big role in getting me here.

“I’m very grateful for that.”

Swenson, the Horizon League pitcher of the year in 2008, finished his YSU career as the school’s leader in innings pitched (347) and strikeouts (265). He ranks fifth in career victories with 20. He set a single-season record this year for innings pitched (99 2/3).

He’s the third Penguins senior to join a minor league team this month.

Infielder Jacke Healy was drafted in the 27th round by the Houston Astros and pitcher Eric Marzek was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 30th round.

Swenson earned second team all-conference honors this spring and proved to be a durable and successful starter.

“Hopefully the things I’ve learned at YSU will translate over,” he said. “I don’t doubt for a second that they will.”