October 23, 2017
By Ben Hayden, Gazette Staff

Joel Swedlove had the time of his life.

A lifelong member of the Kalamazoo Badgers, Swedlove admits he had his world turned upside down when he was traded on July 17 to the Kentucky Thoroughbreds.

“I remember getting the call and at first I didn’t believe it. You always hear your name come up in rumors, but year in and year out the only thing I ever knew was Kalamazoo, I never thought I would actually get dealt,” the 30-year-old Canadian said in an interview from his offseason home in his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta. “I’ll admit it, I broke down. I love Kalamazoo, I love the Badgers organization and all the friends and great people I met there. I didn’t want to leave.”

Swedlove’s disappointment soon turned to excitement when he realized the situation he would be entering into. Kentucky was in the midst of a playoff push – the first time the team had legitimately been a contender in franchise history – and Swedlove had the opportunity to be thrust right into the middle of it.

“Amazing experience. You play this game to try to make the playoffs and win a championship and obviously that wasn’t something that has been a very real possibility in Kalamazoo in my time there. You can’t explain the excitement that there was in the ballpark every night when we all knew we were working towards something greater and something that would be huge for a franchise like Kentucky,” Swedlove said. “There’s no better feeling than being in a tight game down the stretch for a playoff contender and I hope to experience that more as my career goes along.”

Alas, Swedlove and the Thoroughbreds fell short of their conquest. The team sputtered to a 10-16 September, en route to finishing 82-80. A four-game sweep at home against West Virginia Alleghenies during the final week of September sealed the team’s fate. The team scored only three runs during the four-game series. What’s worse, Swedlove injured his ankle on Sept. 18 and was sidelined for two weeks, unable to play when the team needed him the most.

“It probably equates to the biggest professional disappointment of my career,” Swedlove said of the late-season injury. “I’ve never wanted to be there more for my teammates and to have to sit on the sidelines and watch was painful.”

While he was in the lineup, Swedlove pulled his weight. With the Thoroughbreds, Swedlove had a hitting line of .276/.354/.514 with 12 homeruns in 59 games. The numbers were all-around better than how he had been doing in recent years with Kalamazoo.

“He looks more relaxed in there, as if he’s just one of the guys, instead of being the entireface of the franchise,” said a league scout who wished to remain anonymous, three weeks after Swedlove had been traded. “Or maybe he’s just playing for a contract now, who knows?”

Suggesting Swedlove would give anything less than 100% of his effort at all times is something the infielder said is a “slap in the face.” That being said, the issue of a contract is certainly on his mind. Swedlove is set to become a free agent at season’s end and as of yet he hasn’t been tendered a contract by Kentucky.

Where he will end up is anyone’s guess, but perhaps it’s telling that he still hasn’t sold the house he owned for years in downtown Kalamazoo.

“Would I like to return to the Badgers? Of course. As I said, I’ve always remained committed to Kalamazoo and what they are trying to do there. I think that team could be very good, very soon. That being said I’d love to return to Kentucky too, but I’m sure I’m going to have to go through the free agency process and see what offers are out there,” he said. “I’m happy to go play for whoever wants me, but as I said my dream has always been to win a championship and I would love nothing more than to do it for the team that took a chance on me, saw me through the system and believed in me and that’s Kalamazoo. I’ve always loved it there and I consider it my home away from home. I haven’t heard anything one way or the other about being brought back into Kentucky either, but I’d love that as well. I’ve had a great time here and I’d love to help this franchise get to the playoffs.”

Swedlove, along with a fourth round draft pick, was traded for infielder Gil Sterling, starting pitcher Jorge Jiménez, and pitching prospect Jorge Fierro. Did he have additional pressure on him to perform better than Sterling, who ended up taking his spot in the lineup and hitting .278/.367/.431 with three homeruns?

“Not really. I actually read a lot of criticisms in the media about how people in Kentucky thought it was ridiculous to trade a guy like Sterling for half a season of me, when a lot of people think he’s a better player than me and he’s obviously younger,” Swedlove said. “You know what? He is a great player and it remains to be seen what his career ends up like, but I’m not in competition with him in any way. Kentucky brought me in because they thought I could help the team win and that’s what I set out to do every day. Sterling is a great player and Jiménez had a great year for Kalamazoo there too. Fierro could be a good piece in the future too. I’m happy the Badgers were able to get some players that hopefully will help turn their team around as well.”

While he waits to see what his future will hold, for now Swedlove is taking a bit of time off before getting back to training. Standing 6’2” and only 147 pounds, Swedlove earned the nickname “Bashing Beanpole” this year for his slender frame. With that in mind, his offseason focus will be the same as always.

“I’m trying to gain weight,” he said with a laugh. “I was trying to gain weight in 2009 when I first broke into the league and the goal remains the same today. I eat as much as I can, I lift weights, but I can never seem to put on any mass. I suppose as long as the ball goes over the fence I’m OK with it, but we’ll see how this offseason goes.”

This offseason is one of question and intrigue for not only Swedlove, but for Badgers fans, who wonder where exactly on the most beloved players in franchise history will end up.