Swart to Miss 2015 Season

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke senior left-hander Trent Swart will miss the 2015 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his left elbow.

In 2014, Swart started 11 games, posting a 5-2 record and 1.76 ERA. The Carlsbad, Calif., native led the ACC in earned run average and ranked 14th in opposing batting average (.21) and 16th in strikeouts per game (7.92). Swart's 1.76 ERA was the sixth-best in program history and Swart was the first Blue Devil pitcher to register an ERA under 2.00 while pitching 50-plus innings since Michael Seander in 2007.

“It's a really tough blow to lose a pitcher like Trent Swart for the season,” said head coach Chris Pollard. “Trent has consistently proven himself as one of the best starting pitchers in the ACC over the past three years. We will miss not only his production and competitive fire but also his leadership on the field.”

Swart will enter the 2016 campaign as one of the top pitchers in Duke history. His 2.99 career ERA ranks third in program history and is the best Duke career mark since the start of the aluminum bat era in 1974.

“I'm very grateful that we are blessed with a tremendous sports medicine staff here at Duke,” Pollard added. "Trent is getting the very best care in his rehab from our team trainer, Aldo Plata, and physical therapist, Kerry Mullenix. The prognosis for Trent to make a full and complete recovery is very good and we're looking forward to having him back on the mound for the 2016 season.”

The Blue Devils turned in an historic season on the mound in 2014 and posted a 3.14 team ERA, the squad's lowest since ending 1971 with a 2.71 mark. The Blue Devils struck out a program-best 501 batters this past season and ranked second in the league in strikeouts per game (8.56). Duke returns 11 pitchers from its 2014 roster and has added four freshman hurlers into the mix.

“This injury provides a tremendous opportunity for some young pitchers in our program to step forward and play a more meaningful role as we continue to grow this program towards national prominence,” said Pollard.

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Trent Swart

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