Frank Schwindel

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Frank Schwindel

|image = Frank Schwindel Orix Buffaloes 20230419.jpg

|caption = Schwindel with the Orix Buffaloes in 2023

|team = Algodoneros de Unión Laguna

|number =

|position = First baseman

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|6|29}}

|birth_place = Livingston, New Jersey, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = March 27

|debutyear = 2019

|debutteam = Kansas City Royals

|debut2league= NPB

|debut2date = April 19

|debut2year = 2023

|debut2team = Orix Buffaloes

|statyear = 2022 season

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .269

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 22

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 79

|stat2year = 2023 season

|stat2league = NPB

|stat21label = Batting average

|stat21value = .188

|stat22label = Home runs

|stat22value = 1

|stat23label = Runs batted in

|stat23value = 11

|teams=

Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2019}})
Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|2021}})
Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2022}})
Orix Buffaloes ({{npby|2023}})

}}

Frank J. Schwindel (born June 29, 1992), nicknamed "Frank The Tank",{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Paul|title=Column: The legend of Frank Schwindel grows with a 7th-inning grand slam to give the Chicago Cubs a wild 11–8 win|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cubs/ct-chicago-cubs-frank-schwindel-20210905-554n3ptjbrcnpd3wgoedfywtvq-story.html|access-date=2021-09-06|website=chicagotribune.com|date=September 5, 2021 }}{{cite web|date=2021-09-05|title=Frank 'The Tank' Schwindel Is A New Cubs Fan Favorite, Having Led The Team To 6 Straight Wins|url=https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/09/05/frank-schwindel-cubs-fan-favorite/|access-date=2021-09-06|language=en-US}}{{cite web|title=Frank Schwindel's emergence — now known around Wrigley as 'Frank the Tank' or 'Schwindy City' — has been something to see for the Chicago Cubs|url=https://news.yahoo.com/frank-schwindel-emergence-now-known-172900770.html|access-date=2021-09-06|website=news.yahoo.com|date=September 5, 2021 |language=en-US}} is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago Cubs, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes.

Amateur career

Schwindel attended Livingston High School in Livingston, New Jersey.{{cite web |title=Livingston's Frank Schwindel had monster season for Royals' affiliates |url=http://www.diamondnation.com/news/Frank_Schwindel |access-date=August 19, 2018 |publisher=Diamond Nation}} He attended St. John's University and played college baseball for the St. John's Red Storm from 2011 to 2013.{{cite web |title=Frank Schwindel |url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?ID=164386 |access-date=March 25, 2019 |publisher=thebaseballcube.com}} 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.

Professional career

=Kansas City Royals (2013–2019)=

The Kansas City Royals selected Schwindel in the 18th round of the 2013 MLB draft.{{cite web |last=Torres |first=Maria |date=March 28, 2018 |title=Royals 1B Frank Schwindel not on major league roster 2018 | The Kansas City Star |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article207137529.html |access-date=August 19, 2018 |publisher=Kansascity.com}}{{cite web |date=March 22, 2018 |title=Frank the Tank: Meet Frank Schwindel, the cult hero of Royals spring training – The Athletic |url=https://theathletic.com/284636/2018/03/22/frank-the-tank-meet-frank-schwindel-the-cult-hero-of-royals-spring-training/ |access-date=August 19, 2018 |publisher=Theathletic.com}} 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. Schwindel appeared in the Triple-A All-Star Game in 2018.{{cite web |date=July 10, 2018 |title=Frank Schwindel and Trevor Oaks will represent Storm Chasers in Triple-A All-Star game | Storm Chasers |url=https://www.omaha.com/sports/chasers/frank-schwindel-and-trevor-oaks-will-represent-storm-chasers-in/article_1c0472ca-66d5-53cc-bc75-d5c553efa82e.html |access-date=August 19, 2018 |publisher=omaha.com}}

File:Frank Schwindel (47469645331) (cropped).jpg in 2019]]

Schwindel received a non-roster invitation to 2019 major-league spring training.{{cite web |date=January 8, 2019 |title=Royals invite 19 players to Major League Spring Training |url=https://www.mlb.com/royals/press-release/royals-invite-19-players-to-major-league-spring-training-302473246 |access-date=March 25, 2019 |website=mlb.com}} He was named to the Royals' Opening Day roster.{{cite web |title=Frank Schwindel has made the Royals' opening day roster ... according to George Brett |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article228410129.html |access-date=March 29, 2019 |website=kansascity}}{{cite web |title=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. |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article228529639.html |access-date=March 29, 2019 |website=kansascity}} On May 14, 2019, after collecting just one hit in 15 at-bats (an .067 average), he was designated for assignment.{{cite web |date=May 14, 2019 |title=Royals' Frank Schwindel: DFA'd by Kansas City |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-frank-schwindel-dfad-by-kansas-city/ |access-date=May 14, 2019 |website=CBS Sports}} 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.{{cite web |last=Adams |first=Steve |date=May 28, 2019 |title=Tigers Sign Frank Schwindel to Minor League Deal |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/05/tigers-sign-frank-schwindel.html |access-date=May 28, 2019 |website=mlbtraderumors.com}} 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.{{cite web |last=Woodbery |first=Evan |date=November 7, 2019 |title=Tigers re-sign 5 minor-league free agents, including Nick Ramirez |url=https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2019/11/tigers-re-sign-5-minor-league-free-agents-including-nick-ramirez.html |access-date=November 9, 2019 |website=mlive |language=en}}

Schwindel did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |last=Jeff Todd |date=June 30, 2020 |title=2020 Minor League Season Canceled |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |accessdate=July 19, 2021}} He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.{{Cite web|title=Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/full-list-of-2020-2021-milb-free-agents/|access-date=September 21, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 2, 2020 |language=en}}

=Oakland Athletics (2021)=

On November 18, 2020, Schwindel signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics organization.{{cite web |last=Steve Adams |date=November 20, 2020 |title=A's Add Three To 40-Man Roster, Announce Several Minor League Signings |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/athletics-sign-pete-kozma-deichmann-romero-charles-40-man.html |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |accessdate=July 19, 2021}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/06/29/as-call-up-minor-leaguer-tied-for-most-home-runs-in-the-minor-leagues-j-b-wendelken-reinstated-cam-bedrosian-dfad|title=A's call up minor leaguer tied for most home runs in the minor leagues; J.B. Wendelken reinstated, Cam Bedrosian DFA'd|first=Shayna|last=Rubin|work=The Mercury News|date=June 29, 2021|accessdate=August 10, 2022}} 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.{{cite web |title=Frank Schwindel first career homer lifts Athletics past Rangers |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/frank-schwindel-first-career-homer-lifts-athletics-past-rangers |work=Mlb.com |accessdate=July 19, 2021}} Schwindel went 3-for-20 (.150) in eight games with Oakland before being designated for assignment on July 16.{{cite web |last=Tucker |first=Jill |date=July 1, 2021 |title=A's reinstate Mitch Moreland from IL, designate Frank Schwindel for assignment |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/athletics/article/A-s-reinstate-Mitch-Moreland-from-IL-designate-16320377.php |publisher=Sfchronicle.com |accessdate=July 19, 2021}}

=Chicago Cubs (2021–2022)=

On July 18, 2021, the Chicago Cubs claimed Schwindel off waivers and optioned him to the Triple–A Iowa Cubs.{{cite web |last=Anthony Franco |title=Cubs Claim Frank Schwindel Off Waivers From Athletics |date=July 18, 2021 |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/07/cubs-claim-frank-schwindel-off-waivers-from-athletics.html |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |accessdate=July 19, 2021}} The Cubs promoted Schwindel to the major leagues on July 30, after they traded Anthony Rizzo. Schwindel hit .344 with six home runs, 18 RBI, 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.{{cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2021/9/2/22655121/frank-schwindel-david-ross-adbert-alzolay-willson-contreras |title=Cubs 1B Frank Schwindel named NL Rookie of Month for August |publisher=Chicago Sun-Times |date=2021-09-02 |accessdate=2021-09-06}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://fansided.com/2021/09/05/cubs-pirates-three-grand-slams/ |title=Cubs and Pirates tie MLB record for grand slams in a game |publisher=Fansided |date=2021-09-05 |accessdate=2021-09-07}} 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.{{cite web |last=Brett Taylor |title=Of Course Frank Schwindel is the NL Player of the Week|date=September 7, 2021 |url=https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2021/09/07/of-course-frank-schwindel-is-the-nl-player-of-the-week/ |publisher=Bleacher Nation |accessdate=September 7, 2021}} In his first full major league season, between Oakland and Chicago, Schwindel batted .326 with 14 home runs and 43 RBI, 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.{{cite web |title=2021 Awards Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2021.shtml#all_NL_ROY_voting |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=16 November 2021 |language=en}}

File:Frank Schwindel.jpg

Schwindel opened the 2022 season in the major leagues, but was optioned to Iowa after batting .209 in his first 96 plate appearances.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20220508/cubs-hope-slumping-schwindel-can-find-his-rhythm-in-iowa |title=Cubs hope slumping Schwindel can find his rhythm in Iowa |work=Daily Herald |date=2022-05-08 |accessdate=2022-09-18}} He was promoted back to the major leagues the next day.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cubs/ct-chicago-cubs-frank-schwindel-20220509-gkkcudiysrbvjn45v5aqx4nypi-story.html |title=Frank Schwindel: 1 day later, 1B back with Chicago Cubs |work=Chicago Tribune |date=2022-05-09 |accessdate=2022-09-18}} Schwindel went on the injured list on June 18 due to a strain in his lower back. He was activated on July 14.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-cubs-activate-inf-frank-schwindel-from-10-day-il|title=Cubs activate INF Frank Schwindel from 10-day I.L., place INF Andrelton Simmons on 10-day I.L.|website=MLB.com}} The Cubs optioned Schwindel to Iowa on August 9, 2022; he had batted .229 with eight home runs before the demotion.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/cubs-option-frank-schwindel-after-franmil-reyes-addition |title=Cubs option Frank Schwindel to Triple-A |publisher=Nbcsports.com |date=2022-08-09 |accessdate=2022-09-18}} On September 17, the Cubs designated Schwindel for assignment.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/cubs-dfa-frank-schwindel-sean-newcomb-day-sums-2022 |title=Cubs DFA Frank Schwindel, Sean Newcomb on day that sums up 2022 - NBC Sports Chicago |publisher=Nbcsports.com |date=2022-09-17 |accessdate=2022-09-18}} The next day, 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).{{Cite web |title=Frank Schwindel Signs With NPB's Orix Buffaloes |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/frank-schwindel-signs-with-npbs-orix-buffaloes.html |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |date=December 11, 2022 |language=en-US}} In 20 games for the Buffaloes in 2023, Schwindel hit .188/.186/.275 with one home run and 11 RBI.

=Long Island Ducks=

On April 12, 2024, Schwindel signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=Ducks Ink Infielders Frank Schwindel and Manuel Geraldo|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/ducks-ink-infielders-frank-schwindel-and-manuel-geraldo/n-6078749|access-date=April 12, 2024|website=oursportscentral.com|date=April 12, 2024 |language=en}} In 61 games for the Ducks, he slashed .325/.393/.558 with 14 home runs and 58 RBI. He became a free agent following the season.

=Algodoneros de Unión Laguna=

On February 28, 2025, Schwindel signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 28 de febrero de 2025|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-28-de-febrero-de-2025|access-date=March 1, 2025|website=milb.com|language=en}}

Personal life

Schwindel and his wife, Katherine, welcomed their first child, a son, in January 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/frank-schwindel-called-up-by-a-s-on-his-birthday |title=Frank Schwindel called up by A's on his birthday |work=Mlb.com |date= |accessdate=2021-09-06}}