Frank Schwindel

Frank J. Schwindel (born June 29, 1992), nicknamed "Frank The Tank",[1][2][3] is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago Cubs.

Frank Schwindel
Schwindel with the Orix Buffaloes in 2023
Orix Buffaloes – No. 23
First baseman
Born: (1992-06-29) June 29, 1992
Livingston, New Jersey, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: March 27, 2019, for the Kansas City Royals
NPB: April 19, 2023, for the Orix Buffaloes
MLB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Batting average.269
Home runs22
Runs batted in79
NPB statistics
(through September 19, 2023)
Batting average.245
Home runs1
Runs batted in21
Teams

Amateur career

Schwindel attended Livingston High School in Livingston, New Jersey.[4] He attended St. John's University and played college baseball for the St. John's Red Storm from 2011 to 2013.[5] During college, he also played for the Riverhead Tomcats of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League in 2011, and the Keene Swamp Bats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League in 2012.[5]

Professional career

Kansas City Royals (2013–2019)

The Kansas City Royals selected Schwindel in the 18th round of the 2013 MLB draft.[6][7] Schwindel played for the Idaho Falls Chukars in his debut season of 2013, producing a slash line (batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage) of .300/.336/.431/.767 with six home runs and 42 runs batted in (RBIs) in 64 games played. He played for the Lexington Legends and the Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2014, combining to hit .280/.309/.500/.809 with 22 home runs and 75 RBIs in 118 games. In 2015, Schwindel played for Wilmington and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, he combined to hit .252/.281/.383/.664 with seven home runs and 54 RBIs in 123 games. He spent the entire 2016 season with Arkansas, hitting 270/.301/.446/.747 with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs in 120 games. He split the 2017 season between Arkansas and the Omaha Storm Chasers, combining to hit .329/.349/.541/.890 with 23 home runs and 97 RBIs in 133 games. He returned to Omaha in 2018, hitting .286/.336/.506/.842 with 24 home runs and 93 RBIs in 134 games.[5] Schwindel appeared in the Triple-A All-Star Game in 2018.[8]

Schwindel with the Royals during an exhibition game at Werner Park in 2019

Schwindel received a non-roster invitation to 2019 major-league spring training.[9] He was named to the Royals' Opening Day roster.[10][11] On May 14, 2019, after collecting just one hit in 15 at-bats (an .067 average), he was designated for assignment.[12] He was released on May 18, 2019.

Detroit Tigers (2019–2020)

On May 28, 2019, Schwindel signed a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers.[13] Schwindel split the remainder of the season between the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, the Double-A Erie SeaWolves, and the High-A Lakeland Flying Tigers. He re-signed with the Tigers on a new minor league contract after becoming a minor league free agent on November 7, 2019.[14] Schwindel did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[15] He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.

Oakland Athletics (2021)

On November 18, 2020, Schwindel signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics organization.[16] He began the 2021 season with the Las Vegas Aviators. On June 29, 2021, the Athletics promoted Schwindel to the major leagues; at the time, he was batting .324 for Las Vegas, leading Triple-A West with 60 hits and 42 runs scored, and his 16 home runs were tied with Jo Adell for the most in Minor League Baseball.[17] On June 30, Schwindel hit his first major league home run in his first at-bat with Oakland against Kolby Allard of the Texas Rangers. With the hit, Schwindel became the first Athletics player since Terry Steinbach in 1986 to hit a home run in his first at-bat with the team.[18] Schwindel went 3-for-20 (.150) in eight games with Oakland before being designated for assignment on July 16.[19]

Chicago Cubs (2021–2022)

On July 18, 2021, the Chicago Cubs claimed Schwindel off waivers and optioned him to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.[20] The Cubs promoted Schwindel to the major leagues on July 30, after they traded Anthony Rizzo. Schwindel hit .344 with six home runs, 18 RBIs, a .394 on-base with a .635 slugging and a 1.030 OPS in August, and won the National League Rookie of the Month Award.[21] On September 5, Schwindel hit a go-ahead grand slam that put the Cubs up to stay in an 11–8 win over the Pirates.[22] His grand slam was the third go-ahead grand slam in the game, tying a major league record. Two days later, he was named the NL Player of the Week for the week of August 30 to September 5.[23] In his first full major league season, between Oakland and Chicago, Schwindel batted .326 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs, which despite only playing in 64 games was good enough to earn him two votes in National League Rookie of the Year voting, tying him for sixth place with Tyler Stephenson.[24]

Schwindel with the Chicago Cubs in 2021

Schwindel opened the 2022 season in the major leagues, but was optioned to Iowa after batting .209 in his first 96 plate appearances.[25] He was promoted back to the major leagues the next day.[26] Schwindel went on the injured list on June 18 due to a strain in his lower back. He was activated on July 14.[27] The Cubs optioned Schwindel to Iowa on August 9, 2022; he had batted .229 with eight home runs before the demotion.[28] On September 17, 2022, the Cubs designated Schwindel for assignment.[29] On September 18, 2022, the Cubs announced Schwindel had cleared waivers and was granted his unconditional release.

Orix Buffaloes

On December 11, 2022, Schwindel signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[30]

Personal life

Schwindel and his wife, Katherine, welcomed their first child, a son, in January 2021.[31]

References
  1. Sullivan, Paul. "Column: The legend of Frank Schwindel grows with a 7th-inning grand slam to give the Chicago Cubs a wild 11–8 win". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  2. "Frank 'The Tank' Schwindel Is A New Cubs Fan Favorite, Having Led The Team To 6 Straight Wins". September 5, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  3. "Frank Schwindel's emergence — now known around Wrigley as 'Frank the Tank' or 'Schwindy City' — has been something to see for the Chicago Cubs". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  4. "Livingston's Frank Schwindel had monster season for Royals' affiliates". Diamond Nation. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  5. "Frank Schwindel". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  6. Torres, Maria (March 28, 2018). "Royals 1B Frank Schwindel not on major league roster 2018 | The Kansas City Star". Kansascity.com. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  7. "Frank the Tank: Meet Frank Schwindel, the cult hero of Royals spring training – The Athletic". Theathletic.com. March 22, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  8. "Frank Schwindel and Trevor Oaks will represent Storm Chasers in Triple-A All-Star game | Storm Chasers". omaha.com. July 10, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  9. "Royals invite 19 players to Major League Spring Training". mlb.com. January 8, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  10. "Frank Schwindel has made the Royals' opening day roster ... according to George Brett". kansascity. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  11. "Royals make it official, Frank Schwindel and Kyle Zimmer are on opening day roster. He was later sent down, only after collecting 1 major league hit". kansascity. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  12. "Royals' Frank Schwindel: DFA'd by Kansas City". CBS Sports. May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  13. Adams, Steve (May 28, 2019). "Tigers Sign Frank Schwindel to Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  14. Woodbery, Evan (November 7, 2019). "Tigers re-sign 5 minor-league free agents, including Nick Ramirez". mlive. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  15. Jeff Todd (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  16. Steve Adams (November 20, 2020). "A's Add Three To 40-Man Roster, Announce Several Minor League Signings". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  17. Rubin, Shayna (June 29, 2021). "A's call up minor leaguer tied for most home runs in the minor leagues; J.B. Wendelken reinstated, Cam Bedrosian DFA'd". The Mercury News. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  18. "Frank Schwindel first career homer lifts Athletics past Rangers". Mlb.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  19. Tucker, Jill (July 1, 2021). "A's reinstate Mitch Moreland from IL, designate Frank Schwindel for assignment". Sfchronicle.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  20. Anthony Franco. "Cubs Claim Frank Schwindel Off Waivers From Athletics". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  21. "Cubs 1B Frank Schwindel named NL Rookie of Month for August". Chicago Sun-Times. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  22. "Cubs and Pirates tie MLB record for grand slams in a game". Fansided. September 5, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  23. Brett Taylor. "Of Course Frank Schwindel is the NL Player of the Week". Bleacher Nation. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  24. "2021 Awards Voting". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  25. "Cubs hope slumping Schwindel can find his rhythm in Iowa". Daily Herald. May 8, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  26. "Frank Schwindel: 1 day later, 1B back with Chicago Cubs". Chicago Tribune. May 9, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  27. "Cubs activate INF Frank Schwindel from 10-day I.L., place INF Andrelton Simmons on 10-day I.L." MLB.com.
  28. "Cubs option Frank Schwindel to Triple-A". Nbcsports.com. August 9, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  29. "Cubs DFA Frank Schwindel, Sean Newcomb on day that sums up 2022 - NBC Sports Chicago". Nbcsports.com. September 17, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  30. "Frank Schwindel Signs With NPB's Orix Buffaloes". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  31. "Frank Schwindel called up by A's on his birthday". Mlb.com. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
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