Red Sox Rankings: Top 5 Surprises of 2016 Season

4. Blake Swihart is replaced by Christian Vazquez

When the Red Sox brought Swihart to the majors last season after Ryan Hanigan‘s injury on May 1, it was out of necessity.  This season, perhaps for the same reason Swihart was sent back to the minors  in the second week of the season.  While the move might not be much of a surprise to some fans, the quickness with which it was done after the start of the season was something of a panic move.  At least it appeared that way, but if you consider the win-now attitude around Fenway Park, it makes a lot of sense.

While A.J. Pierzynski was a solid hitting veteran signing at catcher, he was far from a defensive whiz in 2014.  By the time the Red Sox made the move to cut ties with Pierzynski in late July, it was too late to salvage that season.  Once Vazquez came up and everyone saw the effect he has on the opponent’s running game people realized the change should have been made sooner.  He threw out 15 of 29 potential base stealers.

The surprise to this writer is that the team did not give Vazquez more time in the minors to play considering he is recovering from Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow.  Good for the Red Sox that it has worked out thus far, the team has allowed just nine runs while Vazquez has been catching in his last three starts.  Swihart’s last two starts, the pitchers gave up nine runs in each game.  While the move itself was a surprise less than two weeks into the season (and six starts by Swihart), it was the right one.

Next: 5. Travis Shaw has the best average on the team