Blake Swihart believes his time is coming, perhaps sooner rather than later.
Swihart was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday as the Boston Red Sox continued to trim their roster at major league camp. The young catcher expressed satisfaction with how big league spring training turned out, though. He certainly left his mark.
“Definitely,” Swihart told the Boston Herald’s Jason Mastrodonato on Friday when asked whether he proved he can play against major leaguers. “I think everyone has to believe you have the skills to play with these guys if you’re going to make it in this game.”
Swihart, who turns 23 in two weeks, had a very impressive camp. He went 7-for-18 (.389) with one homer, four RBIs and a 1.006 OPS in eight Grapefruit League games, further solidifying himself as one of the organization’s top prospects.
“Blake came in and wasn’t just being happy to be in big league camp, but he came in to compete,” Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters Friday in Fort Myers, Fla. “He knows he is getting closer to becoming a major league player. When that time comes, who knows?
“And I think there are some areas that we recognized he has to continue to develop, and that’s probably as much on the receiving side, some blocking. That’s ongoing maintenance for any catcher. But I thought he showed well — very well.”
The Red Sox already have a solid young backstop in 24-year-old Christian Vazquez, but they’ve still been reluctant to trade Swihart because he’s such a unique talent. Swihart, a switch-hitter, is considered Major League Baseball’s top catching prospect. The sky truly is the limit for the former first-round pick.
“You have a lot of older pitchers here,” Swihart told Mastrodonato of his spring experience. “So you have to learn from them, ask questions, talk to them, and show that you want to be on the same page with them. Talking to everyone, Christian Vazquez, (catcher) Ryan Hanigan, the pitchers, you’re always learning. I learn something every day.”
Swihart still is learning. But he’s learning fast.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
