Rangers add Hernandez to pool, release Swihart

The Texas Rangers added infielder Yonny Hernandez to their Alternate Training Site on Sunday. Today, the Rangers released Blake Swihart from the Alternate Training Site.

The addition of Hernandez is, I suspect, simply a depth move to better allow the team to have some intrasquad games at the Alternate Training Site. The 22 year old primarily plays second base, and made it to Frisco in the second half of 2019. He’s unlikely to be added to the 40 man roster or promoted to the majors at this point, I believe. Although he has good on base skills and steals some bases, he has no power, slashing .289/.413/.330 last year between high-A and AA.

Meanwhile, catcher/infielder/outfielder Blake Swihart was released from the Alternate Training Site, the team announced. Swihart, 28, was drafted in the first round by Boston in 2011 as a bat-first catcher, but his defense behind the plate never really developed, and he hasn’t hit in the majors. Swihart was talked about as a potential versatile bench option when he was brought to spring training on a minor league deal, but never really seemed to be in the mix.

Also, this might be something everyone but me already knew, but Justin Foscue is listed on the Rangers website as being in camp on a minor league deal, thus indicating he’s been assigned to the Alternate Training Site as well.