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Red Sox Activate Vazquez, Send Swihart To Pawtucket

BOSTON (CBS) -- The Red Sox are making a change behind the plate.

The team activated catcher Christian Vazquez from the disabled list and recalled him from Pawtucket on Friday, sending current starting catcher Blake Swihart to Triple-A.

Vazquez missed all of last after undergoing Tommy John surgery on April 2, 2015, but will now get the bulk of the starts behind the plate for Boston. The young backstop is known as one of the best defensive catchers in the game, and is also a favorite among the Red Sox staff when it comes to calling games behind the plate.

In 55 games for Boston in 2014, Vazquez threw out 52 percent of attempted base stealers (15 of 29).

The 25-year-old caught four of the five games during his rehab stint with Pawtucket, going 6-for-13 (.462) with a double, seven walks, two RBI, and a .650 on-base percentage. His return should help Boston starters, who own a 6.86 ERA eight games into the season -- the worst ERA in the American League.

In demoting Swihart, Vazquez will now likely get the majority of the starts for Boston behind the plate, sharing time with veteran Ryan Hannigan.

 

 

 

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