Red Sox Draft UConn Pitcher Barnes, High School Catcher Swihart
BOSTON (AP) - The Boston Red Sox selected University of Connecticut right-handed pitcher Matt Barnes with the 19th pick in the first round of the major league baseball draft Monday night.
Barnes, a native of Bethel, Conn., was taken with the pick the Red Sox received as compensation from the Detroit Tigers for signing catcher Victor Martinez as a free agent.
With their second pick, at No. 26 overall, the Red Sox selected switch-hitting high school catcher Blake Swihart, from New Mexico. He has committed to the University of Texas.
The Red Sox received the pick from the Texas Rangers for signing free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre.
Boston also picked Henry Owens, a left-handed pitcher from Edison High School in California, with the 36th overall pick and outfielder Jackie Bradley from the University of South Carolina with the 40th pick.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
