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Red Sox manager Alex Cora

Opening Day for the Boston Red Sox is a week away. This season, they will begin on the road with three games against the Cincinnati Reds. Before they return to Fenway Park for their home opener, they will have a stop against the Houston Astros for three more games the following week.

Roster decisions are going to come up fast for manager Alex Cora. He has some big ones this season after some roster turnover. Caleb Durbin, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers over the winter, will start at third base for Alex Bregman, who left in free agency for the Chicago Cubs. Cora also needs to name a fifth starter at the backend of his rotation.

As for who will be catching that starter, that question is already answered. Carlos Narváez is back after a very good 2025 season. Who will be his backup? That remains to be seen. However, Cora potentially hinted at who he is leaning toward to back up Narváez.

Boston Red Sox Manager Alex Cora Has a Back Up Catcher Decision To Make

Boston has had four catchers in camp this year to fight for the backup position behind Narváez. Connor Wong, who was the backup last season, was joined by Matt Thaiss, Jason Delay, and Mickey Gasper. Wong has had an underwhelming spring training, going just 2-for-26. However, Cora doesn’t mince words about Wong, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.

“Connor has done it before, so I’m not worried about him…,” said Cora. “He was hitting the ball really, really hard before he got hurt (in 2025). I don’t want to say we rushed him but he didn’t have too many at-bats before he got back to the active roster. Then, he lost playing time because Carlos (Narváez) was that good.”

Wong was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in February of 2020 as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Mookie Betts to the Dodgers. He has played in 348 games for the Red Sox since 2021. Last year was his worst to date in Boston. Wong slashed .190/.262/.238 with a -0.6 WAR in 63 games. That was a major fall from 2024, when he slashed .280/.333/.425 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs. Despite the decline in numbers, Cora still believes in Wong.

“We’ll see where we’re at but I really like Connor,” said Cora. “He’s a good player, he’s good in the clubhouse and he knows the pitching staff so I really like him.”

Is Connor Wong the Best Option for the Boston Red Sox As Backup Catcher?

In November, Wong agreed to a one-year deal to avoid arbitration with the Red Sox for $1.375 million. However, going 2-for-26 in spring training is not something that Cora can just overlook, even for a backup catcher.

Thaiss is a 30-year-old who has played in 305 career games combined with the Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays. He inked a minor-league deal ahead of spring training, and he has an upward mobility clause that kicks in soon and allows him to seek another major league spot somewhere else if he isn’t getting one in Boston.

In the end, Cora likely decides to go with Wong as his backup for Narváez to begin the season. If his struggles from spring training carry over to the regular season, how long will Wong survive, regardless of how much Cora likes him? The backup catcher decision is a crucial one ahead of Opening Day.

Scott Roche Scott Roche covers college football, NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com and has three decades of sports writing, covering everything from college to professional sports. More about Scott Roche