- Full name William M. Schwanke
- Born 04/07/1994 in Stillwater, OK
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Wichita State
- Drafted in the 22nd round (661st overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015.
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It's been a wild ride for Schwanke as he spent a year at Arkansas as a third baseman, split time between pitching and third base at Grayson (Texas) CC as a sophomore, then became an immediate weekend starter for Wichita State as a junior. But Schwanke's two years with the Shockers have both ended prematurely. He was shut down after 33 innings in 2015 thanks to a lat injury and opted to return to school after being drafted by the Brewers in the 22nd round. Bicep soreness and a back injury ended his 2016 season early as well. When healthy, Schwanke, the son of former Oklahoma State/Louisiana State assistant coach Jim Schwanke, generates ground balls thanks to heavy sink and excellent fastball command. His fastball is solid average as he'll sit 90-92 mph and touch 94. Schwanke lacks a plus secondary offering, but his 82-84 mph slider and 80-82 mph changeup play up because of his ability to command them and his ability to throw all three in any count. He profiles as a back-end starter. Schwanke is a redshirt junior who has a year of eligibility remaining, but as a 22-year-old there's impetus for Schwanke to start a pro career. -
The son of former Oklahoma State and Louisiana State batting coach Jim Schwanke (now an agent), Willie not surprisingly is one of the top high school hitters in Texas. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder has an extremely quick lefthanded bat and a mature approach, giving him the potential to produce for both power and average. He's a below-average runner, but his strong arm and work ethic give him a chance to stick at third base. A two-way star with an 88-92 mph fastball and a hard breaking ball, he'll get the chance to contribute as a hitter and pitcher if he attends Arkansas. Scouts consider him unsignable.
