LAS VEGAS — The Red Sox are comfortable with Connor Wong being their backup catcher behind starter Carlos Narváez in 2026 despite his struggles this past season.
The 29-year-old batted just .190 with a .262 on-base percentage, .238 slugging percentage, .500 OPS, no homers, eight doubles, seven RBIs and 16 runs in 63 games (188 plate appearances).
“We felt like he was kind of on the cusp of breaking out (after 2024),” chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said at the GM Meetings here at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. “And I think there’s a number of things that we could point to in ’25 that could explain why the performance wasn’t what we had anticipated. But still believe in the player that he is.”
Wong underwent a right hand carpal boss excision soon after the Red Sox were eliminated from the postseason. It was a hand issue he dealt with for years, not just in 2025.
His offensive numbers dropped off significantly from 2024 when he hit .280 with a .333 on-base percentage, .425 slugging percentage, .758 OPS, 13 home runs, 24 doubles, one triple, 52 RBIs and 54 runs in 126 games (487 plate appearances).
He entered the 2025 season as Boston’s No. 1 catcher, but he lost his starting job to Narváez while on the IL from April 8-May 2 with his fractured pinky.
“I think he made some strides defensively, and even if you look at some of the underlying stuff on the offensive side, he walked more than he did in ’24,” Breslow said. “He struck out less than he did in ’24 and we’re confident that he’s going to bounce back.”
Wong’s walk percentage increased from 5.7% in 2024 to 8.5% in 2025. His framing also improved significantly.
Both Red Sox catchers underwent surgery following the season. Narváez underwent a left knee meniscectomy after playing on an injured meniscus for at least the final eight weeks of the season, including the AL Wild Card Series.
“They’re doing well,” Breslow said. “We don’t anticipate any issues, and I think very shortly those guys will be having full, healthy offseasons.”
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