Indians' Swisher: 'I'm not going to stress about things anymore'

Cleveland Indians outfielder Nick Swisher is hoping a positive approach leads to better results.

He's no longer overwhelmed by the pressure of living up to his high-priced contract. His surgically repaired knees are apparently pain-free. And more importantly, says Swisher, the chip on his shoulder is gone.

Swisher, who underwent season-ending surgery on both knees in August, said he's mentally and physically refreshed after suffering through the worst year of his career.

"I'm not going to stress about things anymore," Swisher told MLB.com on Friday. "I'm going to go out there and play the game that I know how and the game that I love every day, because when you're going through those tough times, the love and the passion for the game start to go away a little bit. You have to find something inside yourself to bring all that back. Whatever it was, I found it and I have it again and I could not be more happy for that."

The switch-hitting veteran slashed a career-worst .208/.278/.331 with eight homers last season, appearing in the fewest games (97) since his rookie year. Swisher, 34, admitted he played through injury in an effort to justify his four-year, $56-million contract.

"When you're waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and you've got to crawl to the bathroom," Swisher said, "that probably should've been something where I really should've said to myself, 'Something's wrong.'"

Swisher heads into camp this spring projected as the club's designated hitter, but for now he's trying to avoid titles. 

"I think just with where I'm at right now, I'm just here to be a piece of the puzzle," he said. "I'm excited to be back. I'm excited to get back on the field and do what I know I can for this team."