9/7/11

PRESS RELEASE: Val Pascucci, Chris Schwinden, Mike Baxter

Bisons MVP Valentino Pascucci, All-Star Chris Schwinden Promoted to the Mets

Mike Baxter also gets post-season promotion

September 5, 2011 –The New York Mets today announced that they have promoted INF VALENTINO PASCUCCI, RHP CHRIS SCHWINDEN and OF MIKE BAXTER from the Bisons.

Pascucci was the Bisons 2011 Most Valuable Player while Schwinden was the club’s lone mid-season All-Star and also the team’s Most Valuable Pitcher. Pascucci was with Buffalo for the entire 2011 season and led the club in virtually every offense category. The slugger was tops on the Bisons in games (130), runs (58), hits (117), doubles (29), home runs (21), extra-base hits (51), RBI (91), walks (76), on-base percentage (.375) and slugging percentage (.476). His 91RBI on the year were the most for a Bisons player since 2004 while his 21 home runs were the most for a Buffalo player since 2006. Pascucci will be returning to the major leagues for the first time since he played 32 games with the Montreal Expos during the 2004 season.

Schwinden, 24, will be making his first appearance in the major leagues. The righty began the season in the bullpen of Double-A Binghamton but made the most of a sport start on April 17 to secure a spot in the Herd rotation. From there, he lead the Bisons in starts (26), innings pitched (145.2), ERA (3.95) and strikeouts (134) while tying Pat Misch for the team lead with eight wins. Schwinden’s 134 strikeouts were the 3rd-most in a single season by a Bisons pitcher in the modern era. Schwinden appeared in the 2011 Triple-A All-Star where he pitched an inning of scoreless relief.

Baxter played in 18 games over two stints with Bisons this season. Overall with the Herd, he hit .188 (12-64) with one home run and seven RBI.

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