FORT MYERS, Fla. — Blake Swihart was a take-charge catcher in the minor leagues, unafraid to go to the mound and tell a pitcher what he was thinking. If Swihart saw Henry Owens falling out of his mechanics or Brian Johnson working a little too fast, he’d fix it.

That’s how he was taught, that a catcher should be an extension of the coaching staff on the field.

“I think I’d be a better pitching coach than I would be a catching coach,’’ Swihart said. “You see so many different deliveries, you know the little changes you can suggest to get guys back on track.

That became harder when Swihart was called up to the majors last May. Swihart knew little about veterans like Rick Porcello and Wade Miley and was uncomfortable with the idea of correcting them.

“I didn’t want to overstep my boundaries with them,’’ he said. “I did what they needed me to do for them, whatever they asked. I did exactly what they wanted.

“With guys like Hank or BJ, I knew I could manipulate them so they would do better. Or I could set up a certain way or call a certain pitch. But I wasn’t able to do that with an older guy. I needed time.

“It kind of bothered me, to be honest. I had a lot going on in my head when I was called up. I barely ate for about a week.’’

For catchers, fine-tuning the ability to work effectively with a pitcher is as important as blocking balls in the dirt or making strong throws to the bases. Even the most talented and confident pitcher sometimes needs a reminder during an inning, if not a poke in the chest.

Red Sox bullpen coach Dana LeVangie, who doubles as the catching instructor, knew it would be a struggle for Swihart.

“You have to have confidence in yourself before you can go to the mound and expect the pitcher to have confidence in you,’’ he said. “It’s getting to know people who are at the highest level of the game. You need them to trust you.’’

Through the early days of spring training, the difference in Swihart is clear. On Sunday, as he caught David Price in live batting practice, Swihart was shouting bits of encouragement from behind the plate. Inside the clubhouse, he has been quick to offer advice to Porcello or any of the other pitchers.

LeVangie has noticed Swihart getting teammates together to go out for a meal or play golf. The elements all add up to his being more authoritative behind the plate.

“Take Rick, I can go up to him now and say, ‘Hey man, this is what I see and I feel this would work out for you.’ That didn’t happen last year until the end of the season,’’ Swihart said.

“If a guy is dragging his arm or falling on his front side, you have to be able to go out there and tell them.’’

Manager John Farrell saw the changes in Swihart right away.

“In a normal offseason, when a player can reflect back on the previous season they grow even more. That’s been the case with Blake,’’ Farrell said. “In some of the early-morning meetings we have or one-on-one sit-downs with players, Blake has demonstrated a greater comfort, greater confidence and knowing he has to be more emphatic in certain situations. That’s his leadership coming out.

“You’re always promoting that. Yet the player’s going to tell you when he’s confident in that and Blake is certainly growing in that area.’’

Because of his athletic ability and offensive potential, the idea of Swihart changing positions has long been part of his resume as a prospect. But the 23-year-old is more attracted to the idea of impacting the games in ways not so easily quantified.

“To me, if I go 0 for 4 and we win because I helped the starter get through the game, that’s a great day,’’ Swihart said. “That is where the real value of a catcher is. If I get a couple of hits, that’s great. But it’s gravy for me.’’

Said Johnson: “Blake doesn’t want to be a good hitter who catches. He wants to be a great catcher. He works hard at that.’’

For Swihart, the ultimate test will be finicky Clay Buchholz.

Swihart did not catch Buchholz last season. The righthander had Ryan Hanigan for four games then fell into a routine of using Sandy Leon as his personal catcher. With Leon expected to start the season in Triple A Pawtucket, Buchholz will need a new catcher.

“I want to work with Buch a lot in spring training. A lot,’’ Swihart said. “I love watching him pitch. I feel like he can be one of the best five pitchers in the league. He has nasty stuff and a lot of pitches.’’

Farrell doesn’t feel it necessary to have Swihart work with Buchholz more than he otherwise would in spring training. He’ll wait and see how it plays out over time.

“I’ve got to go into the season open-ended with that,’’ Farrell said. “I can’t deny that there are certain combinations that are more comfortable and potentially perform better.’’

Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said last week he sees Swihart being a “foundation-type player’’ on the same level as Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and Eduardo Rodriguez.

“He’s a tough guy,’’ Dombrowski said.

But only when needed.

“I won’t just sit there this year,’’ Swihart said. “If I have to come out to the mound, I’ll be there.’’

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.