Greg Swindell is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on June 2, 1965, in Fort Worth, Texas, and attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he played college baseball for the Longhorns.
Swindell was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the first round of the 1986 MLB draft and made his debut with the team later that year. He quickly established himself as a reliable starter, earning a spot on the American League All-Star team in 1989. He finished the season with a 16-12 record and a 3.20 ERA, helping the Indians to their first winning season in over a decade.
After spending six seasons with the Indians, Swindell was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 1993. He had a solid season with the Reds, going 12-9 with a 3.76 ERA, but was traded again the following year, this time to the Houston Astros.
Swindell spent two seasons with the Astros, posting a 3.94 ERA in 1995 and a 3.21 ERA in 1996. He then signed with the Minnesota Twins as a free agent in 1997, but struggled in his lone season with the team, going 3-12 with a 5.48 ERA.
After his disappointing season with the Twins, Swindell signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1998. He had a bounce-back season, going 8-2 with a 3.76 ERA in 25 games (14 starts). He remained with the Diamondbacks for two more seasons, serving primarily as a reliever.
Swindell finished his career with brief stints with the Boston Red Sox and the Kansas City Royals in 2002. He retired with a career record of 123-122 and a 3.86 ERA.
Throughout his career, Swindell was known for his control and his ability to induce ground balls. He was a two-time All-Star and won the Gold Glove Award in 1989. He also pitched in the postseason three times, including the 1995 National League Division Series with the Astros.
After retiring from baseball, Swindell worked as a pitching coach for several college teams, including Texas State University and Texas Wesleyan University. He also served as a color commentator for Texas Rangers broadcasts on Fox Sports Southwest.
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