Switzer is a 1998 graduate of Clear Lake High School in Houston, Texas While there he was three-year letterwinner and was selected for the following honors: '98 first-team all-district, '97 second-team all-district, USA Today 1998 All-USA honorable mention, Houston Area All-Star, '98 all-state selection.

[1] In 1998, Switzer was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 26th round of the amateur entry draft[2] but chose to attend Arizona State University where he majored in marketing.

Switzer attended Arizona State for three years (1999–2001) and appeared in 66 games compiling a 23–13 record with a 4.01 ERA striking out 327 batters in 303.1 innings.

[2] By 2003 Switzer worked his way up to the Triple-A Durham Bulls and made his first major league appearance against the Kansas City Royals on August 2, 2003.

[6] On January 4, 2008, Switzer was signed by the Boston Red Sox to a minor league contract and was invited to spring training.