Baseball Alumnus Playing Winter Ball For Another Shot at MLB

DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Dec. 13, 2011) – Former Mercy College baseball player Brian Sweeney, who pitched and roamed the outfield in Dobbs Ferry from 1993-96, has recently revitalized his career in the professional ranks of Major League Baseball and is impressing in winter ball as he looks for a new contract this season.

Sweeney recently left the independent Atlantic League Somerset Patriots to sign with his hometown New York Mets and spent the past season with their AAA affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons, where he posted a 4.34 ERA and impressive 3.05 K/BB ratio in 85.0 innings over 32 appearances, including eight starts.  He has made three starts in the Venezuelan Winter League this offseason, posting a 2-0 record with a 4.26 ERA and 2.75 K/BB ratio in 12.2 innings pitched.  His last start on Dec. 9 lasted 6.0 innings, in which he allowed just one hit while fanning seven in a dominant performance.

First signed as an undrafted free agent in 1996 by the Seattle Mariners, the Yonkers native has since been a part of three other Major League Baseball organizations and spent time in the independent leagues as well as an impressive three seasons with the esteemed Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan.

The 6-2 righthander has reached the majors on four occasions, first appearing for the San Diego Padres in 2003, seven years after signing his first professional contract, and again in 2004 and 2006, when he posted a 3.20 ERA and 1.44 K/BB ratio in 56.1 innings pitched over 37 appearances.  He was most recently called up again by his original club to replace Ian Snell in the show on June 15, 2010, and recorded a 3.16 ERA with a 2.33 K/BB ratio in 24 relief appearances for the Mariners.