Red Sox place Hanigan on DL, promote Swihart

Boston Red Sox catcher Ryan Hanigan. (Elise Amendola/AP)

BOSTON — The Red Sox have placed catcher Ryan Hanigan on the 15-day DL after he fractured his right pinkie in Friday’s loss to the New York Yankees.

To take his place on the roster, the club promoted top catching prospect Blake Swihart from Triple-A Pawtucket. Swihart is in the starting lineup, catching and batting ninth.

The 34-year old Hanigan hit .222 with one homer and five RBIs before the injury.

Swihart, 23, will make his major league debut and wear No. 23. He hit .338 with no homers in 11 RBIs in 18 games with Pawtucket.

He was rumoured in a number of off-season trades, but the club held onto him.

Projected starting catcher Christian Vasquez was lost for the season during spring training after having right elbow reconstructive surgery.

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