With all the fanfare surrounding the Trenton Thunder pitching staff this season, the starter that has taken the league by storm is one that is not a top 15 prospect like the rest.

Erik Swanson has been lights out for the Thunder to start the 2018 campaign. In five games (four starts), the righty has posted some ridiculous numbers. He is 5-0, with a 0.65 ERA, both of which lead the Eastern League. He is second in WHIP at 0.87 as well, with 35 strikeouts, 15 hits allowed, and just eight walks, in 27.2 innings.

With Justus Sheffield (number three prospect) gone, and Domingo Acevedo (number eight prospect), Jonathan Loaisiga (number 14 prospect), and Dillon Tate (number 11 prospect) in Trenton, Swanson is surrounded by a lot of talent. But it is Swanson that has started to open the eyes of some people in the organization, and who may soon be an addition to that prospect list.

"I am just going to try to continue what I am doing," Swanson said. "I am getting ahead of hitter early with my fastball. I am commanding that fastball, and I am able to put those guys away when I need to. I have to continue to work on that.

"My goal is to go out there and give our team a chance to win every day, and it is obviously a plus if I can pitch well and get a win."

Swanson got the win Friday night against Harrisburg, as the Thunder scored eight runs in the first three innings for the righty. That was more than enough, as Swanson settled in to dominate the Senators. He allowed just four hits in seven innings of work, and threw 93 pitches (63 for strikes).

"It takes a little weight off my shoulders to get that early support," Swanson said.

For as easy as it has looked for Swanson out there, he still has some things to work on to get better.

"I would not say it has been easy," Swanson said. "Obviously, the stat line may look like it has been easy, but I have definitely had my struggles. Sometimes I have not been able to throw my pitches the way I want to throw them. I think I have been walking too many guys here.

"But you have to remember that everybody is human, and is going to have those rough outings, those bad outings. It is not a matter of if, but when. But whatever you can do to minimize those, whether it is the work you put in the middle of the week to get you there.

"I just try to go abut my weeks the same way, and whenever it comes time to get on the mound, I just do what I do.

Swanson has been working on a new pitch over the last couple starts, which can only help him get better.

"A pitch I am working on now is my slider," Swanson said. "It is a new pitch to me, as of two starts ago. That is something they are wanting to see progress, and I want to see progress. I have been very happy with it, the way it has been the last two outings.

"I still need to do a few things to shape it up a little better. The work I am doing during the week, whether it is throwing on flat ground, playing catch, or throwing a side, I am definitely taking extra repetitions with that. I am really trying to shape it the way I want.

"But I am also trying to get comfortable so that I can throw that pitch in every count, and I am feeling comfortable with it like that. I threw it (Friday) in some hitters' counts. It is a pitch that can pan out, and be a good one for me."

NOTES:

The Yankees made a number of moves prior to the game Sunday that dealt with the Thunder.

Pitcher Joe Harvey and infielder Bruce Caldwell were transferred to Triple A Scranton Wilkes-Barre, and were replaced on the roster by infielder Vince Conde and pitcher Matt Frawley.

Ryan Bollinger, who was transferred from Scranton Friday, made his first career start with Trenton Sunday. He picked up the win, as the Thunder finished the four-game sweep of Harrisburg with a 4-0 win.

Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean