FORT MYERS, Fla. — Through the first few days of Red Sox camp, catcher Blake Swihart has been off-target with many of his throws back to the pitcher, enough that he has working off to the side to correct it.
Swihart and manager John Farrell said on Friday that it’s nothing to be concerned about. But that will only be true if it goes away.
“It’s more just me feeling bad for the pitcher that I’m throwing it to. That’s about it,’’ Swihart said.
Until this week, Swihart never had experienced what are known as the yips.
“This is something that kind of has popped up a little bit,’’ Farrell said. “[Swihart] has always been a good athlete, a good athletic catcher, accurate thrower. So there’s some technique that he’s working through right now.’’
The 24-year-old Swihart caught only 182 innings last season, counting his time in the minors. He caught his last game on May 17 for Triple A Pawtucket and was summoned to the majors three days later to play left field.
Swihart lasted 13 games before he suffered a season-ending ankle injury on June 4.
He’s believes the throwing issue is related to switching back to catcher after going to the outfield.
“I’m going back to catch. In the outfield you have a longer arm swing and a longer arm movement,’’ Swihart said. “I’m trying to shorten it back up. Misfiring here and there. But I’m not too worried about it.’’
Bullpen coach Dana LeVangie doubles as the team’s catching instructor. The Sox also have minor league catching instructor Chad Epperson and former major league catcher Rich Gedman in camp. Swihart will not lack for advice.
“I feel fine. I’m not worried; you guys shouldn’t be worried either,’’ Swihart told reporters. “I’m working on my craft and promise the ball’s going to get there.’’
Rodriguez progresses
In his second bullpen session, lefthander Eduardo Rodriguez was more crisp and worked in some of his secondary pitches. He went seven weeks without throwing off a mound after suffering what the team said was a minor knee injury in winter ball.
“Increased energy from two days ago. Good day for Eddie,’’ Farrell said.
Drew Pomeranz (left elbow) and Steven Wright (right shoulder) have yet to throw off a mound but are scheduled to on Monday.
Scheduled departures
Xander Bogaerts will leave camp on Feb. 28 to join up with the Netherlands team for the World Baseball Classic in Korea. Hanley Ramirez, who is with the Dominican Republic, will leave March 3. The DR opens play in Miami on March 9.
With Gold Glove shortstop Andrelton Simmons on the Dutch roster, Bogaerts will shift to third base for the tournament. Farrell spoke to Netherlands manager Hensley Meulens and was assured that Bogaerts will get sufficient work at shortstop before games.
Sale price was fine
Principal owner John Henry remains comfortable with the Red Sox having traded Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, and two other prospects for Chris Sale.
“We still have a lot of prospects,’’ Henry said. “With David [Ortiz] leaving, I think there was a feeling that we should do something. When this opportunity came about, it was tough to give up two of the best prospects in baseball, but I think we all agreed that this was a rare opportunity.’’
He really means it
“My career as a player is over. I’m not going to play baseball again. I’m good . . . and retired,’’ David Ortiz told ESPNdeportes.com at his home in Weston, Mass. “Right now I’m calm and I’m fine; no one is playing, I’m not looking at the competition, my teammates playing, or the team doing well or not right now. But it’s not that I think that at some point I will feel that I should be playing, because if I should be playing, I would be playing.’’ . . . For the first time since 2006, the Red Sox do not have at least one Japanese player on their roster at spring training. Also missing are members of the Japanese media and translator C.J. Matsumoto. The Sox retained massage therapist Shinichiro Uchikubo and Mikio Yoshimura, a Japanese media liaison who also assists the special events staff.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.
