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Blake Swihart

Born: 04/03/1992 (Age: 21)
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
Height: 6' 0" Weight: 185
Primary Position: C
Physical/Health
Bigger than he looks on the field; stands a solid 6’1’’; good build; lower half not as rotund as most backstops; clean health.
Evaluator Jason Parks
Report Date 08/15/2013
Dates Seen 07/08/13 - 07/11/13
Affiliate Salem Red Sox (High A, Red Sox)
MLB ETA Risk Factor OFP Video
2015 Moderate 55 Yes
Tool Future Grade Report
Hit 55 Clean stroke from both sides of the plate; eerily similar swing; shows very good bat speed; good bat control; good high-ball hitter who can get square velocity above standard plane; line-drive stroke; has good raw pop but doesn’t sell out for power; works himself into favorable conditions but can be aggressive early against fastballs; tracks the ball well; has natural bat-to-ball ability; will use entire field.
Power 40 Can sting the ball; loud contact; swing lacks big lift; has raw strength and bat speed to send a few over the fence, but mostly a gap-to-gap type because of the swing plane; doesn’t project to hit for average home run power.
Baserunning/Speed 40 Average-at-best run; good athlete with some quickness and agility, but not a true above-average runner; good baseball instincts will eventually show up on bases; heads-up player; won’t be a stolen base threat; not a clogger.
Glove 55 Better glove than I was led to believe; very good athlete behind the plate; butt rides low to the ground and the target isn’t large; receives well; shows some drift but nothing sloppy; excellent footwork to stay centered on balls; no question that he stays behind the plate; will improve a full grade because of work ethic and baseball aptitude.
Arm 65 Very strong arm; flashed several 7 throws to second; consistent plus; pops in the sub 1.9 range; quick into throwing position; quick release; good accuracy; should develop into very good catch/throw type; aggressive on the back-pick; comfortable and confident in the arm strength; weapon.
Overall

Switch-hitting catcher with legit defensive skills and a projectable hit tool; power isn’t big part of game, but should produce extra-base hits from a down-the-lineup role; makeup is top of the scale; will maximize skill-set; could develop into .275 hitter with 10 bombs and 20-plus doubles from behind the plate; top 101 prospect in the game with helium.

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