That was the same year the Sox drafted Kyle Teel, their catcher of the future. The first-round pick was racing toward Fenway Park before being traded to the White Sox in December as part of the prospect package for Garrett Crochet.
That makes Wong the catcher of the immediate future. Maybe longer.
As the Red Sox prepare for next season, Wong is the only catcher on the 40-man roster with meaningful major league experience.
His backup is Carlos Narváez, a 26-year-old who made his major league debut for the Yankees last season and appeared in six games. He was acquired in a trade on Dec. 11.
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At 28, Wong is still learning his position. He did not become a full-time catcher until his junior season at the University of Houston, and even last season he helped out the Sox by starting six games at first base and one at second base. Wong even played two innings in left field.
Wong hit .280 with a .758 OPS last season, adding some power (13 home runs) and speed (eight stolen bases). For a good team, he would hit down in the lineup. But Wong started games in the lineup’s 3-4-5 slots 69 times last season as the Sox dealt with a series of injuries.
Wong also is durable. His 1,822⅓ innings behind the plate the last two seasons are the eighth-most in the majors.
But Wong does not grade out well defensively based on public metrics. His pitch framing and blocking are among the worst in the game, according to the data.
The Red Sox push back on that assessment, claiming their internal numbers are more positive. But improvement is clearly needed.
“He’s had a chance to work pretty closely with some of our catching instructors at home in Houston this offseason, and he’s really excited about what 2025 can bring for him,” chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said.
Narváez is a strong defender who was blocked by Austin Wells and Jose Trevino last season. He handles pitchers well and should emerge as a reliable backup.
Narváez had a .782 OPS in 96 Triple A games and has crushed the ball in the Venezuelan winter league, hitting .377 with a 1.118 OPS through 25 games.
“He’s a guy that we’re really excited about,” Breslow said. “What we saw out of him in winter ball only enhances or reinforces what we think. He’s a great complement to Connor.”
Breslow also praised Narváez for his pitch-framing and receiving skills.
That’s important for the Sox, as there is not much depth behind Wong and Narváez.
The team signed 31-year-old Seby Zavala to a minor league contract in November. He has appeared in 194 major league games for the White Sox, Diamondbacks, and Mariners since 2019, hitting .205 with a .613 OPS.
Zavala is an adequate defensive catcher with occasional power from the right side. The Sox see him as a mentor for their pitchers in Triple A, while serving as an insurance policy for Wong and Narváez.
As for prospects, 25-year-old Nathan Hickey is the closest to the majors. The former fifth-round draft pick started 27 games behind the plate for Worcester last season. He also plays first base.
Hickey had a .733 OPS over 112 games for Portland and Worcester in 2024.
Johanfran Garcia is the highest-ranked catching prospect in the organization. But the 20-year-old from Venezuela tore a knee ligament running the bases last May, which ended his season with Single A Salem after 14 games.
He has only 468 professional plate appearances over three seasons since signing.
Brooks Bannon, 20, finished last season in Salem and furthered his development with 16 games in the Arizona Fall League, where he posted an .803 OPS.
Bannon started 30 games as a catcher last season when counting the AFL. He had 35 as a first baseman or designated hitter.
Bannon has a strong arm but needs work defensively. He’s more of a hitting prospect at this point and could land at first base.
The biggest change the Sox made with their catching for 2025 was hiring Parker Guinn as their instructor. Jason Varitek will focus on his role as the game-planning and run-prevention coach.
Guinn managed for the Yankees in the Dominican Summer League last season. He was with New York for two years after coaching at the University of Washington, his alma mater.
Primary 2024 catchers: Connor Wong, Reese McGuire, Danny Jansen.
Projected 2025 catchers: Wong, Carlos Narváez.
Major league depth: Seby Zavala.
Prospects to watch: Nathan Hickey, Johanfran Garcia, Brooks Bannon.
Peter Abraham can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @PeteAbe.
