Red Sox Catcher Situation Unsettled as Narvaez Struggles, Wong Pushes for More Playing Time

Manager Alex Cora's latest comments suggest the Red Sox catcher role is no longer a clear-cut situation.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 10:52pm

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The Boston Red Sox may not be ready to publicly strip Carlos Narváez of the starting catcher label, but manager Alex Cora's latest comments made it clear that the team's catcher situation is no longer the settled situation it looked like at the start of spring training. Narváez, who earned trust last year with his defense, is struggling at the plate early this season, while Connor Wong has been producing offensively and pushing for more playing time.

Why it matters

The Red Sox's catcher situation is an important storyline to follow, as the team tries to find the right balance between offensive production and defensive reliability behind the plate. Narváez's struggles and Wong's emergence could force the team to re-evaluate their plans and potentially move towards more of a timeshare at the position.

The details

Through 12 games, Narváez was hitting .195 with no extra-base hits, no RBIs, only one walk, and 14 strikeouts. In contrast, Wong entered Saturday batting .381 with four doubles in just 21 at-bats, already halfway to his 2025 doubles total. Cora tried to present the situation as matchup-based and team-first rather than a demotion, but his comments suggest the competition is open, even if he does not want to say it bluntly.

  • Through 12 games this season, Narváez was struggling at the plate.
  • On Saturday, Wong started behind the plate with right-hander Tarik Skubal on the mound, while Narváez was expected to return on Sunday.

The players

Carlos Narváez

The Red Sox's starting catcher to begin the season, Narváez earned trust last year with his defense, but is struggling at the plate early in 2026.

Connor Wong

The Red Sox's backup catcher, Wong has been producing offensively and pushing for more playing time, batting .381 with four doubles in just 21 at-bats.

Alex Cora

The manager of the Boston Red Sox, Cora has been trying to present the catcher situation as a matchup-based decision, but his comments suggest the competition is open.

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What they’re saying

“He's a catcher for the team. Both of them.”

— Alex Cora, Manager, Boston Red Sox

What’s next

The Red Sox will continue to evaluate the catcher situation on a game-by-game basis, with Narváez and Wong both expected to see playing time. If Wong continues to outperform Narváez at the plate, Cora may have to make a more definitive decision on the starting role.

The takeaway

The Red Sox's catcher situation has become more fluid than it was at the start of the season, with Narváez struggling offensively and Wong pushing for more playing time. Cora is trying to handle the situation delicately, but the team's actions suggest the competition is open, and the Red Sox may be headed towards more of a timeshare behind the plate.