SPRINGDALE, Ark. --- Former Tusculum College pitcher Ben Swaggerty has been promoted to the Double-A Northwest Naturals of the Texas League announced officials Monday. Swaggerty will be on the active roster and available for Monday's home game against the Tulsa Drillers.

Swaggerty, who was signed as a non-drafted free agent with Kansas City in 2007, has been a solid performer in the Royals' organization. So far this year with Class-A Wilmington, Swaggerty has posted a 3-1 record with two saves and a stellar 1.64 earned run average. In his 16 relief appearances, he has tallied a pair of saves and hasn't allowed an earned run in his last eight outings. He is in his second season with the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the Royals' Class-A Advanced affiliate in the Carolina League. Swaggerty posted a 3-2 record and a 2.66 ERA last year with Wilmington in his 32 outings with the Blue Rocks.

Swaggerty started off the 2008 season with the Burlington Bees in the Midwest League where he posted a 1-0 mark in his 12 outings. He started his professional career in 2007 with the Idaho Falls Chukars in the Pioneer League as he went 1-0 with a 3.03 ERA. He made 24 appearances out of the bullpen, including a save with 51 strikeouts in his 35.2 innings of work.

Swaggerty, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., posted an impressive 5-0 record and a team-best six saves in his 24 appearances in his senior campaign at Tusculum. During that 2007 season, his save tally was 35th in the nation (NCAA Division II), while posting a 1.69 ERA with 61 strikeouts. He especially shined during TC's postseason run, recording a pair of saves during the 2007 NCAA II South Regional. He tossed three innings in Tusculum's 4-1 win over nine-time national champion Florida Southern College. The following day, he scattered two hits and struck out four in TC's 7-6 win over nationally-ranked Florida Gulf Coast. He led the Pioneers to the championship game of the 2007 South Atlantic Conference Tournament. In his three appearances, he pitched eight innings, allowed two hits, struck out seven and recorded a save. For his efforts, he was named to the SAC All-Tournament Team.

During his collegiate career, Swaggerty appeared in 44 games, recorded 117 career strikeouts and posted an 8-2 record on the mound.

Swaggerty joins former Pioneer teammate Brandon Dickson, who is also pitching for the Texas League's Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals).

In 2009, Tusculum captured its fourth South Atlantic Conference title in the last five years, while posting a 36-18 record. The Pioneers also earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament, TC's third straight postseason appearance and fifth in the last seven years. Tusculum's five NCAA Tournament showings are the most in conference history.

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of nine colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

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