Michael Schwimer got a taste of the Major Leagues last year when the Philadelphia Phillies called him up in August and he made his debut with the parent club against the Washington Nationals.

In that debut, Schwimer gave up just one run and struck out four in three innings of work.He was sent back down to Lehigh Valley 10 days later, but was recalled on Sept. 2 and eventually earned his first win on Sept. 15 tossing a scoreless inning with two strikeouts against the Florida Marlins.Back down on the farm, Schwimer knows he still has things to work on before he becomes a full-time Major Leaguer and wants to be ready when the next call comes.He said getting the call last year has given him the drive to reach that next level."Once you're up there and get a taste of it, that's all you ever want to do," he said while taking time out to chat in the IronPigs locker room. "I'm not getting ahead of myself. I know I have a lot of things to work on. That's the big reason I'm here and I'm going to do that and I'm going to get better as a pitcher, use that and stay up there."Schwimer isn't trying to model himself after other young hurlers who have come through the system and have gotten the call either. When compared to how Michael Stutes answered the call last year and has been up with the Phillies since, he said he doesn't look at it that way."That could happen to me with or without his success," said Schwimer. "He's done very well up there and that's no surprise to me because he's a competitive guy and a pretty good pitcher. It doesn't motivate me because I know I can do it and know I can make it. I motivate myself and I'm able to do it that way."Even though the IronPigs reached the International League championship last season, Schwimer personally likes this year's team, currently sitting in first place with a 6-2 record, better."Offensively, I think we're better," he said. "Our bullpen, which was our strength last year is just as good and our starting rotation is certainly improved. I think the sky's the limit if we can really come together and play good team baseball. We have to move runners over and do the things that Ryan (Sandberg) prides himself on we'll be in real good shape."Schwimer doesn't feel any pressure to get the Pigs back to where they were last year either."This team, if we play to the talent level that we have, we will be better than last year's team," he said. "That's my opinion and all of the players in this room share that same opinion."Pressure is not really there in being better than last year's team. It's just that if we can put solid games together in all three phases, I think we'll win a lot of them."Schwimer gives a lot of credit to his success to catcher Erik Kratz also."I love throwing to him and alway have," Schwimer noted. "He's a big guy that can really receive very well. He does a great job of learning and understanding all of the pitchers and understanding their strengths and weaknesses. Him and I are on the same page and have the same thought process. It's such a big relief having somebody back there that knows your game, knows the opposing hitter and kind of work the same way."Schwimer likes the addition of the couple of left-handed relievers to the bullpen as another plus this season."With (Jake) Diekman, (David) Purcey and whoever else may come down it's a huge strength for us," he noted. "Last year Mike Zagurski did a great job. This year, we have me and Phillippe (Aumont) back from the right side with the addition of (Brian) Sanches who has three years experience in the big leagues."Schwimer said being in the Lehigh Valley is a lot of fun and said the fans definitely love winning baseball. And hopefully the Pigs will feed off the fans again like they seemed to do last year.It's fine with Schwimer for now, but every time he takes the mound for his inning or two, his focus is on getting back to Citizens Bank Park. And he seems to be just a stones throw away.