There's just not a compelling reason to rush him, with Christ the Catcher looking as he has. The side against inertia needs the winning argument here, and it's tough to see how it's clear Swihart has run out of things to learn at AA.
27. Blake Swihart, C | Boston Red Sox
Age: 22 | Current Level: AA (Portland)
Preseason Ranking: 56
Swihart was one of those dreaded 19-year-old high school seniors when the Red Sox took him in the first round of the 2011 draft, but his raw tools merited the pick and Boston has been rewarded for their patience with him. He's now 22 and playing well on both sides of the ball in Double-A. He's hit more homers this year (10) than in his previous two years combined, his receiving continues to improve and he's nailed 54 percent of opposing basestealers -- or would-be basestealers, given that kind of success rate. He's their catcher of the future, perhaps as soon as this time next year.
He is. I was just thinking that the timing of the promotion probably isn't coincidental.JimBoSox9 said:Good timing. I can't get MiLB Gameday to load, is he catching Owens? It's gotta help a bit with the learning curve to have your receiver move up a level with you.
soxhop411 said:
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats 2h
Triple-take remark in @MattEddyBA's chat: "Some scouts see Swihart more as a bat-oriented backup C type" 1st time seeing anything like that
So.. what caused the change?
https://twitter.com/redsoxstats/status/497835103771721728