A system for facilitating hemostasis of a puncture site in a blood vessel injects an absorbable sponge pledget in a hydrated state at an exterior of the blood vessel puncture to facilitate hemostasis. The system includes a tract dilator for locating the puncture, an introducer, and a plunger. The introducer includes a staging chamber for receiving the absorbent sponge pledget and a delivery chamber having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the staging chamber into which a hydrated pledget passes. The pledget is hydrated and compressed within the introducer and then ejected with the plunger to the delivery site to facilitate hemostasis of the blood vessel puncture. The system delivers the absorbable sponge pledget over a guidewire to ensure the proper positioning of the pledget over the puncture. The implanted absorbable sponge once delivered expands rapidly to fill the target site and is absorbed by the body over time.