JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The Philadelphia Phillies called-up reliever Michael Schwimer on Tuesday (8/16/2011) from the club’s AAA team, where the towering right-hander amassed a 9-1 record, 10 saves, and a 1.88 ERA.

“The first part of my life dream has come true,” he Tweeted yesterday. “I cant wait!!!!”

Many MLB teams would have called-up the 25-year-old University of Virginia alum much earlier. The Phillies, however, were in no great hurry. They boast baseball’s best record (78-42), its lowest team (3.09), and a top-shelf relief squad that includes Antonio Bastardo (5-0, 8 saves in 8 chances, 1.41 ERA), Ryan Madison (3-1, 22 saves in 23 chances, 2.16 ERA), and middle-reliever Michael Stutes (5-1, 3.27 ERA).

But the 6’8″, 240-pound Schwimer made an irrefutable case for promotion. A 14th-round pick in the 2008 amateur draft, he had struck out 86 batters in 67 innings this season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (1.3 per inning), walking just 22.

Schwimer’s promotion filled the roster spot left open when All-Star 3B Placido Polanco went on the 15-day disabled list. His first opportunity to play will come at 7:05pm EST tonight (8/17/2011) when the Phils take on the Arizona Diamond backs at home. The game is expected to be broadcast on ESPN.

Whenever Schwimer does take the mound, he will be the 11th Jew to play Major-League ball this season. More Jewish minor leaguers are likely to be called-up when MLB rosters expand from 25 players to 40 in September.

For more on Schwimer, see his Twitter feed, his blog, this funny interview about his Jewfro (he calls it a “terrible salad”), and a “Phear the Phro” t-shirt that his fan club created.

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