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'{{short description|American baseball player}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Blake Swihart | image = Blake Swihart (18695872395).jpg | image_size = 240px | caption = Swihart with the Boston Red Sox | team = Washington Nationals | number = | position = [[Catcher]] / [[Utility]] | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|4|3}} | birth_place = [[Bedford, Texas]] | bats = Switch | throws = Right | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = May 2 | debutyear = 2015 | debutteam = Boston Red Sox | statyear = 2019 season | statleague = MLB | stat1label = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]] | stat1value = .243 | stat3label = [[Home run]]s | stat3value = 12 | stat4label = [[Run batted in|Runs batted in]] | stat4value = 67 | teams = *[[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2019}}) *[[Arizona Diamondbacks]] ({{mlby|2019}}) |awards= * [[World Series]] champion ({{wsy|2018}}) }} '''Blake Aubry Swihart''' (born April 3, 1992) is an American [[professional]] [[baseball]] [[catcher]] and [[outfielder]] in the [[Washington Nationals]] organization. He previously played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] and [[Boston Red Sox]]. Listed at {{convert|6|ft|1|in|m}} and {{convert|205|lb|kg}}, he throws right-handed and is a [[switch hitter]]. ==Amateur career== Swihart attended [[V. Sue Cleveland High School]] in [[Rio Rancho, New Mexico]], where he competed in [[basketball]], [[baseball]], and [[American football|football]]. Playing mainly as a [[shortstop]], he had a .602 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] (56-for-93) with 17 [[double (baseball)|doubles]], five [[triple (baseball)|triples]], five [[home run]]s, 41 [[runs batted in]] (RBIs) and 58 [[run (baseball)|runs]] scored in 28 games as a senior. As a [[pitcher]], Swihart's fastball could reach {{convert|85|mph}} before he began high school, and was up to {{convert|98|mph}} by the time he was a junior. However, it was during his junior season that Swihart quit pitching because he preferred to hit, and it was also during his junior season when Swihart first began playing [[catcher]].<ref name="marcnormandin">{{cite web|url=http://www.overthemonster.com/2015/2/18/8060555/blake-swihart-red-sox-prospect-wrestler-pitcher|title=Blake Swihart was always amazing at everything|first=Marc|last=Normandin|work=Over the Monster|access-date=November 17, 2015}}</ref> In 2009 Blake attended [[Rio Rancho High School]] where he helped the Rio Rancho Rams win a State Championship. Blake played under longtime head coach Ron Murphy. Blake played for the Rams two seasons before Sue Cleveland was built and then attended his new school as he lived in the new boundaries. Even though Blake was only a freshmen and Sophomore at Rio Rancho HS he started every game for the Rams playing multiple positions and was always one of their leading hitters. Swihart played for [[USA Baseball]]'s 18-Under National Team in 2010 and led his team with a .448 average, earning Louisville Slugger All-American honors. For Team USA, Swihart played [[first base]] and [[left field]].<ref name="marcnormandin"/> He played in the 2010 Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic.<ref name=Swihart>{{cite web |url=http://www.soxprospects.com/players/swihart-blake.htm |title= Sox-Prospects.com – Blake Swihart page}}</ref> Off of the baseball field, Swihart had a 4.0 GPA.<ref name="marcnormandin"/> He committed to attend the [[University of Texas at Austin]] on a [[college baseball]] scholarship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.redsox.mlb.com/news/article/20113008/|title=Risky business for Boston with catcher pick|work=Boston Red Sox|access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref> His best friend is [[Alex Bregman]], who plays for the [[Houston Astros]], with whom he grew up playing travel ball.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/lsus-alex-bregman-firmly-among-the-top-10-draft-prospects/|title=LSU's Alex Bregman Firmly Among the Top-10 Draft Prospects|work=Fangraphs|date=May 21, 2015|author =Jesse Burkhart}}</ref><ref name="baseballamerica.com1">{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/mlb-mock-draft-2015-version-1-0/|title=MLB Mock Draft 2015: Version 1.0|work=Baseball America|date=May 8, 2015|author =John Manuel}}</ref> ==Professional career== The Red Sox selected Swihart in the first round, with the 26th overall selection of the [[2011 Major League Baseball draft|2011 MLB Draft]]. He became the highest-drafted player out of New Mexico since [[Shane Andrews]] in 1990.<ref name=Swihart/> Though he played as a [[shortstop]] in high school, the Red Sox converted Swihart into a [[catcher]] because of his athleticism and strong throwing arm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.redsox.mlb.com/news/article/66730850/red-soxs-decision-to-make-blake-swihart-catcher-paying-off|title=Decision to make Swihart catcher paying off|work=Boston Red Sox|access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2014/01/18/why-red-sox-prospect-blake-swihart-is-his-own-breed-of-catcher-15-second-edition/|title=Why Red Sox prospect Blake Swihart is his 'own breed of catcher' (15-second edition)|work=Full Count|access-date=May 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202164225/http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2014/01/18/why-red-sox-prospect-blake-swihart-is-his-own-breed-of-catcher-15-second-edition/|archive-date=December 2, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Red Sox signed Swihart, giving him a $2.5&nbsp;million [[signing bonus]] to convince him to bypass his commitment to the University of Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2011/08/16/red-sox-sign-first-round-catcher-blake-swihart/|title=Red Sox sign first-round catcher Blake Swihart for $2.5 million|work=Full Count|access-date=May 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630090118/http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2011/08/16/red-sox-sign-first-round-catcher-blake-swihart/|archive-date=June 30, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rrobserver.com/sports/article_06742826-c891-11e0-a1ff-001cc4c002e0.html|title=Cleveland's Swihart signs with Boston|work=Rio Rancho Observer|access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref> ===Minor League Baseball=== Swihart played briefly in the [[rookie-level]] [[Gulf Coast League]] in 2011 with the [[Gulf Coast League Red Sox|GCL Red Sox]], then received consecutive promotions to the [[Greenville Drive]] of the [[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] [[South Atlantic League]] in 2012, and the [[Salem Red Sox]] of the [[Class A-Advanced]] [[Carolina League]] in 2013. Prior to the 2014 season, Swihart was named the 73rd-best prospect by ''[[Baseball America]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2014-baseball-america-top-100-prospects-free/|title=2014 Baseball America Top 100 Prospects: The 25th Edition|work=BaseballAmerica.com|access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref> He began the 2014 season with the [[Portland Sea Dogs]] of the [[Class AA]] [[Eastern League (baseball)|Eastern League]]. In August, the Red Sox promoted Swihart, with pitching prospect [[Henry Owens (left-handed pitcher)|Henry Owens]], to the [[Pawtucket Red Sox]] of the [[Class AAA]] [[International League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140806&content_id=88069780&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb|title=Stock Watch: Henry Owens, Blake Swihart rise together|work=MiLB.com|access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref> Swihart was ranked as the second highest-ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization for the 2014 season, according to [[MLB.com]].<ref name=MLB.com>{{cite web |url=http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2014/index.jsp?c_id=bos#list=bos |title=2014 Top 20 Red Sox Prospects}}</ref> Swihart was added to Boston's 40-man roster in November 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nesn.com/2014/11/blake-swihart-three-others-added-to-boston-red-soxs-40-man-roster/|title=Blake Swihart, Three Others Added To Boston Red Sox's 40-Man Roster|work=NESN.com|access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref> With fellow prospect [[Christian Vázquez]] considered more developmentally advanced, the Red Sox assigned Swihart to Pawtucket to gain more experience at the AAA level. However, Vázquez underwent surgery and was out for the entire 2015 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2015/04/whats_blake_swiharts_timetable.html|title=Blake Swihart's timetable to the majors now that Christian Vazquez is out|work=masslive.com|access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref> ===Boston Red Sox=== ====2015&ndash;2017==== [[File:Eduardo Rodríguez and Blake Swihart on June 9, 2015.jpg|thumb|right|Swihart (right) with pitcher [[Eduardo Rodríguez (left-handed pitcher)|Eduardo Rodríguez]] in June 2015]] On May 2, 2015, Swihart was called up to the big leagues for the first time, after catcher [[Ryan Hanigan]] was placed on the [[disabled list]] with a broken finger.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/01/ryan-hanigan-needs-surgery-to-repair-a-fractured-finger-on-his-right-hand/|title=Ryan Hanigan needs surgery, so the Red Sox will call up prospect Blake Swihart - HardballTalk|work=nbcsports.com|access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref> On that day, Swihart recorded his first major league hit, against the [[New York Yankees]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/121900174/nathan-eovaldi-brett-gardner-lead-yankees-past-red-sox?game_pk=414004 |title=Eovaldi, Gardy lead Yankees past Red Sox |publisher=mlb.com |access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref> On June 4, Swihart hit his first major league home run in the third inning of an 8–4 loss to the [[Minnesota Twins]]. A switch-hitter, Swihart hit the home run from the right side of the plate off Twins' starter [[Tommy Milone]]. At 23 years old, Swihart became the youngest Red Sox catcher to hit a home run since [[Rich Gedman]] in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/128615254/red-soxs-blake-swihart-swats-first-homer|title=Red Sox's Blake Swihart swats first homer|work=Major League Baseball|access-date=November 17, 2015}}</ref> When Swihart faced [[Pat Venditte]] on June 5, Venditte saw he was batting using a righty [[batting helmet]]. Venditte then requested to switch his throwing arm (Venditte could pitch with either arm), and Swihart also changed his helmet. Swihart would strike out later, for Venditte's first strikeout. On August 28, Swihart hit an inside-the-park home run in the 10th inning of a 6–4 win over the [[New York Mets]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nesn.com/2015/08/red-sox-wrap-blake-swiharts-inside-the-park-homer-gives-sox-wild-win-over-mets|title=Blake Swihart's Inside-The-Park Homer Highlights Wild Win Over Mets|work=NESN.com|access-date=November 17, 2015}}</ref> On September 29, against Yankees, Swihart had his first career multi-home run game and a career high of five RBIs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/09/29/red-sox-get-jump-beat-yankees-for-fifth-win-row/Lq5Fwbr4iBSPtd1jbl8CPM/story.html|title=Blake Swihart, Red Sox get jump, beat Yankees for 5th win in row|work=BostonGlobe.com|access-date=November 17, 2015}}</ref> Overall, with the [[2015 Boston Red Sox season|2015 Red Sox]], Swihart appeared in 84 games, batting .274 with five home runs and 31 RBIs. Defensively, all of his appearances were as catcher.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2015/Iswihb0010012015.htm |title=The 2015 BOS A Regular Season Batting Log for Blake Swihart |website=[[Retrosheet]] |access-date=June 19, 2019}}</ref> Swihart started playing left field for the 2016 season, and split time between Pawtucket (29 games) and Boston (19 games). With the [[2016 Boston Red Sox season|2016 Red Sox]], he hit .258 with no home runs and five RBIs, while making six appearances at catcher and 13 in left field.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2016/Iswihb0010022016.htm |title=The 2016 BOS A Regular Season Batting Log for Blake Swihart |website=[[Retrosheet]] |access-date=June 19, 2019}}</ref> During 2017, Swihart again split time between Boston (six games) and Pawtucket (53 games), while also playing nine games with the GCL Red Sox. With the [[2017 Boston Red Sox season|2017 Red Sox]], he batted 1-for-5 (.200), while defensively appearing in four games at catcher.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2017/Iswihb0010032017.htm |title=The 2017 BOS A Regular Season Batting Log for Blake Swihart |website=[[Retrosheet]] |access-date=June 19, 2019}}</ref> ====2018&ndash;2019==== Swihart was converted into a [[utility player]] for 2018; he played first base, third base, catcher, and left field during [[spring training]].{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} In mid-May, his agent asked the Red Sox to trade Swihart, given his limited playing time with the team.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23520072/blake-swihart-agent-asks-boston-red-sox-trade-client |title=Blake Swihart's agent asks Red Sox for trade |website=[[ESPN]] |date=May 16, 2018 |access-date=May 16, 2018}}</ref> At the time, Swihart was hitting .138 (4-for-29) in 32 [[plate appearance]]s, having played games at catcher, first base, left field, and [[designated hitter]]. Swihart was placed on the disabled list on August 3, with a right [[Pulled hamstring|hamstring strain]].<ref name=AugTrans/> To that point in the season, he had appeared in 51 games, batting .226 with one home run and six RBIs. He returned to the active roster on August 14.<ref name=AugTrans>{{cite web |url=http://m.redsox.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2018/08 |title=Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions |website=[[MLB.com]] |date=August 2018 |access-date=August 14, 2018}}</ref> Swihart played throughout the season as a bench player, appearing in 82 games and batting .229/.285/.328 with three home runs. In the postseason, Swihart played two innings in the outfield and caught one inning, going 0-for-3 at the plate, as the Red Sox won the [[2018 World Series|World Series]] in five games over the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Boston Red Sox win 2018 World Series. |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/red-sox-win-2018-world-series-title/c-299876586 |publisher=MLB |access-date=October 29, 2018}}</ref> Swihart started the 2019 season as one of two catchers for Boston, along with [[Christian Vázquez]], as [[Sandy León]] was outrighted to the [[Minor League Baseball|minor leagues]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/03/25/red-sox-notebook-sandy-leon-the-odd-man-out/ |title=Red Sox notebook: Sandy Leon the odd man out |first=Michael |last=Silverman |newspaper=[[Boston Herald]] |date=March 25, 2019 |access-date=March 25, 2019}}</ref> Swihart was [[designated for assignment]] on April 16, to make space for León on the roster.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/04/16/red-sox-designate-blake-swihart-for-assignment/Rr8jddNmzY555BsOj4RK8N/story.html |title=Red Sox designate Blake Swihart for assignment and bring up Sandy Leon |first=Peter |last=Abraham |website=[[The Boston Globe]] |url-access=limited |date=April 16, 2019 |access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref><ref name=AprilTrans>{{cite web |url=http://m.redsox.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2019/04 |title=Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions |website=[[MLB.com]] |date=April 2019 |access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref> Swihart had appeared in six games with the [[2019 Boston Red Sox season|2019 Red Sox]], batting 6-for-26 (.231) with one home run and four RBIs. ===Arizona Diamondbacks=== On April 19, 2019, the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] acquired Swihart, along with international signing bonus pool money, from Boston in exchange for outfielder [[Marcus Wilson (baseball)|Marcus Wilson]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Diamondbacks' Blake Swihart: Dealt to Arizona |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/diamondbacks-blake-swihart-dealt-to-arizona/ |website=CBS Sports |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fantasypros.com/mlb/news/210422/blake-swihart-traded-to-diamondbacks.php |title=Blake Swihart traded to the Diamondbacks |first=Kari |last=Thomas |website=fantasypros.com |date=April 19, 2019 |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> Swihart was designated for assignment on August 12, 2019. He elected free agency on October 1, 2019. ===Texas Rangers=== On December 16, 2019, Swihart signed a minor league contract with the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/joely-rodriguez-signs-two-year-deal-with-rangers|title=Texas inks Joely Rodriguez to 2-year contract|website=[[MLB.com]]|date=December 16, 2019|access-date=December 16, 2019}}</ref> On August 25, 2020, Swihart was released by the Rangers organization.<ref>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/08/rangers-release-blake-swihart.html</ref> ===Washington Nationals=== On January 27, 2021, Swihart signed a minor league contract with the [[Washington Nationals]] organization that included an invitation to Spring Training.<ref>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/nationals-sign-blake-swihart-catcher.html</ref> ==Personal life== A gifted athlete from a young age, Swihart also won a national wrestling championship at the age of nine. His father, Arlan, is a [[nuclear engineer]] and played basketball for [[Southern Illinois University]].<ref name="marcnormandin"/> Swihart and his wife, Shelby, were married in 2017.<ref>https://registry.theknot.com/shelby-lucero-blake-swihart-december-2017-ca/19560527</ref> Swihart's older brother, Jace, serves in the [[United States Army]]. He has a younger sister, Kacie.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2015/05/boston_red_sox_rookie_blake_sw.html|title=Boston Red Sox's Blake Swihart says of Army veteran brother Jace Swihart: 'He's a hero in my eyes'|first=Christopher|last=Smith|date=May 25, 2015|website=masslive.com|access-date=April 23, 2019}}</ref> Swihart's parents, Carla and Arlan, adopted Romel Jordan, a family friend who came to live with them during high school. Jordan played [[running back]] for the [[University of New Mexico]]. Jordan died at age 23 in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2019/02/romell-jordan-boston-red-sox-catcher-blake-swiharts-brother-dies-at-23.html|title=Romell Jordan, Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart's brother, dies at 23|first=Christopher|last=Smith|date=February 27, 2019|website=masslive.com|access-date=April 23, 2019}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist|30em}} ==Further reading== *{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2019/04/17/blake-swihart-top-prospect-released |title=What could Blake Swihart have been? The Red Sox never seemed to want to know. |first=Jon |last=Couture |website=[[Boston.com]] |date=April 17, 2019 |access-date=April 17, 2019}} *{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/sports-q/2019/04/16/blake-swihart-sandy-leon-red-sox |title=Sports Q: Is dropping Blake Swihart and bringing up Sandy Léon the right move for the Red Sox? |first=Chad |last=Finn |website=[[Boston.com]] |date=April 16, 2019 |access-date=April 16, 2019}} *{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1493292-blake-swihart-the-catcher-of-the-future-for-the-boston-red-sox |title=Blake Swihart: The Catcher of the Future for the Boston Red Sox |first=Andrew |last=Martin |website=[[Bleacher Report]] |date=January 20, 2013}} *{{cite web |url=https://www.overthemonster.com/2014/1/16/5315974/mlb-blake-swihart-catching-prospects-christian-vazquez |title=MLB ranks Blake Swihart among top catching prospects |first=Marc |last=Normandin |website=overthemonster.com |date=January 16, 2014}} ==External links== {{commonscat|Blake Swihart}} {{Baseballstats|mlb=596119|espn=32123|br=s/swihabl01|fangraphs=13176|brm=swihar000bla|retro=S/Pswihb001}} *{{Twitter}} {{2011 MLB Draft}} {{Boston Red Sox first-round draft picks}} {{2018 Boston Red Sox}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Swihart, Blake}} [[Category:1992 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Arizona Diamondbacks players]] [[Category:Baseball players from New Mexico]] [[Category:Boston Red Sox players]] [[Category:Greenville Drive players]] [[Category:Gulf Coast Red Sox players]] [[Category:Leones del Escogido players]] [[Category:Major League Baseball catchers]] [[Category:Pawtucket Red Sox players]] [[Category:People from Rio Rancho, New Mexico]] [[Category:Portland Sea Dogs players]] [[Category:Reno Aces players]] [[Category:Salem Red Sox players]] [[Category:Visalia Rawhide players]]'