Blake swihart 71 C

Bats: Switch Throws: Right Height: 6-1 Weight: 175

Opening Day Age: 23

Born: April 3, 1992 in Bedford, TX

Resides: Rio Rancho, NM

Major League Service: None

Acquired: Selected in the first round (26th overall) of the 2011 June Draft

Signed By: Matt Mahoney (Red Sox)

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  Beginning 4^th full professional season, his 2^nd in Major League Spring Training camp...Added to the 40-man roster on 11/20/14.
  
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  Selected in 2011 June Draft with 26^th overall pick in the 1^st round…Was compensation pick for losing free agent Adrian Beltre to the Rangers.
  
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  Enters the season as Boston’s No. 1 prospect according to Baseball America, the 1^st Red Sox catcher to hold the distinction since 2000 (Steve Lomasney).
  
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  Has been rated by Baseball America as Boston’s top catching prospect following all 4 of his minor league seasons...Was the publication’s 2014 Minor League Catcher of the Year and also named the starting catcher on Baseball America’s Minor League All-Star First Team.
  
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  In 2014, earned Double-A Sea Dogs team MVP honors and was a mid-season All-Star for the 2^nd straight year (Double-A Eastern League in 2014, High-A Carolina League in 2013).
  
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  Has thrown out 44 percent (72 of 165) of attempted base stealers over the last 2 seasons…Led Double-A Eastern League qualifiers in 2014 (48%) and High-A Carolina League qualifiers (42%)…Named Red Sox 2013 Minor League Defensive Player of the Year.
  
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  Was a member of championship minor league teams each of the last 2 years…Won the International League title with Triple-A Pawtucket in 2014, a year after helping High-A Salem to the Carolina League championship in 2013.
  
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  Participated in the Red Sox Rookie Program in both 2014 and 2015.
  

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  Between the 2 clubs, combined to rank 6^th among full-season Red Sox minor leaguers in AVG (.293) and was 5^th in the system with career highs in both HR (13) and RBI (64).
  

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  Was primary catcher for a Sea Dogs team that posted the best season ERA in the EL (3.41).
  
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  Threw out 45.6 percent of attempted base stealers during the regular season, including an EL-best 47.5 percent (28 of 59) while with the Sea Dogs…Did not allow a passed ball all season.
  
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  Hit .295 (77-for-261), 5 HR, 30 RBI against right-handed pitching and .290 (45-for-155), 8 HR, 34 RBI against lefties.
  
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  Was the East Division’s starting catcher in the EL All-Star Game on 7/16 in Altoona, in which he picked off a runner at 1B.
  
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  Hit .320 in April, .303 in June, and .326 in July…Ranked 8^th in the EL with a .324 AVG (46-for-142) over his last 40 Double-A games from 6/14-8/3.
  
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  At time of 8/4 promotion to Triple-A, was leading the Sea Dogs in hits (104), 2B (23), and total bases (169).
  
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  In 5 playoff games for the Governors’ Cup-champion PawSox, batted .333 (6-for-18) with 3 BB.
  
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  Following the season, named the Red Sox’ No. 1 prospect by Baseball America and the No. 1 catching prospect in the EL (No. 8 overall)...Tabbed by BA as the best catcher in the Red Sox system for a 4^th straight year, as well as the best athlete among Boston minor leaguers.
  

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  Named Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player of the Year and rated by Baseball America as the best defensive catcher in the Carolina League.
  
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  Led CL catchers in CS percentage (41.5, 44 of 106), games (101), chances (841), putouts (743), and assists (88).
  
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  Ranked 3^rd among Red Sox full-season batters and 5^th among CL qualifiers with a .298 AVG…Placed 11^th in the Carolina League in OBP (.366).
  
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  Tied for 3^rd in the CL and tied for 2^nd among Red Sox farmhands with 7 triples.
  
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  Switch-hitter batted .367 (29-for-79) vs. RHP and .279 (83-for-297) vs. RHP.
  
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  Hit .324 (22-for-68) with 12 BB and a .420 OBP in May, reaching safely in 18 of 21 games.
  
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  Started behind the plate for the Carolina League in the California/Carolina League All-Star Game on 6/18 in San Jose, CA…Went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored and nabbed only attempted base stealer.
  
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  Tabbed Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player of Month for July.
  
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  Hit safely in 25 of his last 28 regular season games beginning on 7/24…Led the CL with a .377 AVG (43-for-114) in that time.
  
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  Caught all 5 postseason games en route to Salem’s Mills Cup title.
  
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  Following the season, named the No. 1 catching prospect and the No. 5 prospect overall in the Red Sox system by Baseball America…Also rated the No. 1 catching prospect in the Carolina League and the CL’s No. 5 prospect overall by BA.
  

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  Caught 27 of 86 (31.3%) opposing base stealers.
  
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  Hit safely in 18 of 20 games from 5/10-6/7 (.342, 26-for-76, 9 XBH, 16 RBI).
  
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  Batted .322 (19-for-59) in June.
  
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  Knocked in a season-high 5 runs on 6/2 vs. Charleston.
  
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  Missed time on the DL from 8/1-8/14 with a right hip strain.
  
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  Following the season, ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 1 catching prospect and No. 6 prospect overall…Selected as the No. 17 prospect overall in the South Atlantic League by the same publication.
  

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  Ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 1 catching prospect and No. 3 prospect overall following the season.
  

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  Last name pronounced “SWY-hart.”
  
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  Rated the No.1 catcher in the 2011 June Draft by Baseball America...Became the highest-drafted player out of New Mexico since Shane Andrews in 1990.
  
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  Hit .602 (56-for-93) with 17 2B, 5 3B, 5 HR, 41 RBI, and 58 runs in 28 games as a senior at V. Sue Cleveland (NM) High School in 2011…Named to the Class 5A North All-Star squad by the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.
  
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  Played for USA Baseball’s 18U National Team in 2010 and led the team with a .448 AVG.
  
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  Selected as a Louisville Slugger All-American and participated in the AFLAC All-American High School Baseball Classic in 2010.
  

Blake was involved in local community outreach through his participation in the 2014 and 2015 Red Sox Rookie Development programs, including visiting the Jimmy Fund and Boston Children’s Hospital, and painting murals at McKinley Middle School in Boston with members of the Red Sox Scholars program…In 2014, attended the Red Sox Foundation’s Casino Night and participated in the Fort Myers “Days of Service”…Also participated in the New Stars for Young Stars event in January 2014, benefitting the Jimmy Fund.

2011 GCL Red Sox .000 2 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0

2012 Greenville .262 92 344 44 90 17 4 7 53 0 8 0 26 68 6 2 7

2013 Salem .298 103 376 45 112 29 7 2 42 1 3 1 41 63 7 8 10

2014 Portland .300 92 347 47 104 23 3 12 55 0 3 1 29 65 7 1 8

Pawtucket .261 18 69 6 18 3 1 1 9 0 0 0 2 15 1 0 0

2. Henry Owens, LHP

3. Rusney Castillo, OF

4. Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP

5. Brian Johnson, LHP

6. Rafael Devers, 3B

7. Manuel Margot, OF

8. Matt Barnes, RHP