Wichita State pitcher Willie Schwanke turns down Brewers

Wichita State pitcher Willie Schwanke will return to school for another baseball season, making Friday’s draft-day deadline a happy moment for the Shockers.

The Milwaukee Brewers, who drafted Schwanke in the 22nd round, made a unsuccessful offer on Friday. Schwanke set his request for a signing bonus at $300,000 and didn’t budge. He discussed the offer with his parents and decided to stay with the Shockers. Amateur players had until 4 p.m. Friday to sign with a professional team.

“They came somewhat close,” he said. “It was definitely something we had to sit down and talk about. We made a family decision that it was a better decision to come back.”

His return is a significant boost to WSU’s pitching for next season.

Schwanke, from Frisco, Texas, took over the role of No. 1 starter when a shoulder injury sidelined Sam Tewes and pitched well in wins over Cal Santa Barbara and Southern Illinois. But he tore his lat muscle on March 20 against SIU and didn’t pitch again. In seven appearances, he compiled a 3.00 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 11 walks. If healthy, Schwanke and Tewes offer the potential of a strong weekend combo and returner Chase Williams, drafted in the 25th round by San Diego, gives WSU a third starter with experience.

“I feel like I got lot smarter today with him back,” WSU pitching coach Brent Kemnitz said. “(Schwanke) is a big-time talent. He’s a guy everybody feels great about. Today was a big relief.”

Tewes, who compiled a 1-2 record with a 2.42 ERA in five starts before shoulder inflammation ended his season, is rehabbing and throwing bullpens at home in Nebraska this summer. He recently sent Kemnitz a video of a throwing session and Kemnitz expects him to pitch in fall practices.

As a freshman, Tewes started 15 games and went 8-3 with a 3.27 ERA to earn Freshman All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball.

“Sam Tewes assures me he’s healthy and feels good,” Kemnitz said. “It makes you feel good starting out.”

Schwanke is expected to receive a redshirt year, preserving his draft leverage for next June. He is, by turning down Milwaukee, betting that a strong 2016 season can put him in better position for the draft. He is not playing this summer, instead focusing on recovering from the back injury and patiently increasing his throwing.

“I'll be full-bore ready to go by the fall,” he said. “I'm amping up my rehab right now … building up my pitch count.”

In addition to Schwanke and Williams, WSU also retained Louisiana high school outfielder Dayton Dugas and Maize pitcher Connor Lungwitz, both drafted in the late rounds by Detroit.

This story was originally published July 17, 2015 at 4:03 PM with the headline "Wichita State pitcher Willie Schwanke turns down Brewers."