Nick Swisher of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice in 2012. (Photo : Getty Images/Elsa)
The reunion between Nick Swisher and the New York Yankees might actually be working. Swisher is currently playing well in the minor leagues and could be getting called up very close.
The Yankees signed Swisher to a minor league deal this offseason after getting released by the Atlanta Braves. It has been rough for the former Yankee in the past several years as he did not live up to his four-year, $59 million deal with the Cleveland Indians.
Swisher signed with the Indians in 2012 and had a very disappointing two and a half seasons. He batted only .228 with 32 home runs and 113 RBIs. He was sent to the Braves in last year's waiver trade deadline.
The 35-year-old appeared in only 46 games with Atlanta before getting cut this winter. According to a report by ESPN, the Yankees only signed Swisher as an insurance for players like Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez.
The one-time All-Star has been playing well with the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. He is hitting .333 with a home run and three RBIs in his first five minor league games of the season.
New York manager Joe Girardi revealed that team scouts are monitoring Swisher's performance on a daily basis. Girardi is very impressed with him because he is facing major league-caliber pitchers in the minors.
"He's swinging the bat good. We talk about always wanting depth; let's just see where it goes. But he's swung the bat well," Girardi said in a pregame interview with the NJ Advance Media Group.
New York will likely play Swisher at first base or the designated hitter if he ever gets called up. The Yankees currently have the versatile Dustin Ackley as the backup first baseman, third baseman and fifth outfielder.
Swisher has played in the majors since 2004 when he made his debut with the Oakland Athletics. He spent four years in Oakland before getting traded to the Chicago White Sox in 2008 and playing there for only one season.
The Yankees acquired him in 2009 and became a vital part of the championship team that brought the 27th World Series title in franchise history. Swisher played his best in New York where he hit .268 with 105 home runs and 349 RBIs in four seasons.
Check the video below for some of Swisher's highlights as part of the Yankees.
