Swihart, Rodriguez optioned to Pawtucket

The Red Sox announced their next round of cuts from major league camp on Friday morning, optioning catcher Blake Swihart (pictured) and left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Swihart, currently the top-ranked prospect in the Red Sox system according to SoxProspects.com and the consensus top catching prospect in the game, did not disappoint this spring. Seeing action in nine games, Swihart slashed .389/.450/.556 and hit one home run in 20 plate appearances. He notably received starts in games filled with expected Red Sox regulars, although this was due in part Christian Vazquez's elbow injury. The 22-year-old will look to build upon his 18-game cup of coffee with the PawSox in 2014, during  which he hit .261/.282/.377.

Rodriguez, ranked fifth in the system by SoxProspects.com, was acquired at the 2014 trade deadline in exchange for left-handed reliever Andrew Miller. The 21-year-old had been having an impressive spring, posting a 1.17 ERA in 7 2/3 innings spread over three appearances, striking out nine hitters without allowing a walk. This continued his exciting steps forward following the trade, when he posted a 0.96 ERA and 39/8 K/BB ratio in six starts with Double-A Portland. The lefty is expected to open the season in the Pawtucket rotation, where he made a postseason cameo during the International League playoffs last season, with the possibility of making his major league debut at some point in 2015.

36 players from the 40-man roster, plus an additional 13 non-roster invitees leave the total count of players in major league camp at 49.

Photo Credit: Blake Swihart by Kelly O'Connor.

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