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Red Sox Rankings: American League East Catchers

By Drew Peabody

Aug 22, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart (23) chases a ball against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 22, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart (23) chases a ball against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 19, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) slides into home plate ahead of the tag from Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart (23) during the eighth inning in a game at Rogers Centre. The Boston Red Sox won 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) slides into home plate ahead of the tag from Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart (23) during the eighth inning in a game at Rogers Centre. The Boston Red Sox won 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Blake Swihart

This was the spot that people figured that Christian Vazquez, due to his superior defense, was going to be holding down for the next ten years or so. That plan was derailed by Vazquez elbow injury in Spring Training. The other plan was for Swihart to spend 2015 in AAA getting used to the higher levels of minor league ball before making the transition to the major leagues. When Vazquez went down with his injury, the Red Sox picked up journeyman Sandy Leon to back up new starter Ryan Hanigan at catcher. On May 1 that all changed when Hanigan was clipped by a foul tip breaking a bone in his hand. Blake Swihart, with 38 games at the time played above AA, welcome to the big leagues.

There has never been a question on Swihart’s offensive skills. In his five minor league seasons, he slashed a .286/.340/.427 batting line. Though he started slow at the major league level with a .602 OPS in the first half, Swihart rode a torrid August (.373/.439/.492) to post a second half OPS of .805. If you could combine Swihart on offense and Vazquez on defense you would have one of the top catchers in the majors. Unfortunately, you can’t do that and the Red Sox have to live with Swihart’s defensive deficiencies. While Russell Martin posted a defensive runs saved (DRS) of five in 2015, Swihart’s was -28. That is 28 runs below the league average for catchers.

Even though Swihart has never played a professional position other than catcher, fans would love to see him elsewhere on the field where his bat could stay in the lineup and he wouldn’t be such a liability at such an important position as catcher. Not that other positions are not important but defense is a higher priority behind the plate than other positions. First base seems like a next logical step for Swihart to try as many catchers transition there (McCann among them), but for now he is a catcher.

Swihart is obviously a talented offensive player, if he can improve his defense going forward, he could move up into the top tier of major league catchers and certainly higher on next year’s list.

Next: 5. Curt Casali

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