Red Sox Insider Gives Clear Update On Backup Catcher Competiton originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox are starting to think about which 26 players will make the team’s Opening Day roster.
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Ahead of the final roster cuts, there are only a handful of roster spots up for grabs or position battles. One position battle that has been an intriguing one is the backup catcher, as Carlos Narváez will be the starter.
Connor Wong served as the backup last season, but in camp, Boston has Matt Thaiss, Mickey Gasper, and Jason Delay all competing for the spot. Yet, Red Sox insider Ian Browne of MLB.com believes the job is Wong’s to lose.
“Connor Wong gave the Red Sox an unexpected amount of offense in 2024,” Browne wrote in an article published on Wednesday. “Last season was the opposite. Injuries to his left and right hands left him unable to get anything going offensively.
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“Though Wong is 2-for-26 so far in Spring Training, he still projects as the leading candidate to be Carlos Narváez’s backup. Matt Thaiss, Mickey Gasper, and Jason Delay have all made good impressions.”
Wong has spent the last five seasons in Boston as he’s served as one-half of a catching tandem. Last season, however, Wong dealt with injuries as he was held to just 63 games and hit just .190 with zero home runs and seven RBIs.
Despite the difficult year, Red Sox manager Alex Cora has plenty of praise for the veteran catcher.
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“We’ll see where we’re at,” Cora said about the backup catcher job. “But I really like Connor. He’s a good player. He’s good in the clubhouse. He knows this pitching staff. I like him.”
Boston opens its 2026 MLB season on March 26 on the road against the Cincinnati Reds.
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