Red Sox Catcher Wong Leads Bounce-Back Story in 2026

Boston's catching duo of Connor Wong and Carlos Narváez are powering the team's turnaround after a slow start.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:29pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic motion and multiple perspectives of a baseball game, with a focus on the catcher's position and the energy of the sport.The Boston Red Sox's catching duo of Connor Wong and Carlos Narváez are powering the team's turnaround after a slow start to the 2026 season.Cincinnati Today

The Boston Red Sox are starting to turn things around after a rough start to the 2026 MLB season, and a big part of their resurgence has been the bounce-back performance of catcher Connor Wong. After a disappointing 2025 campaign, Wong has come out strong in 2026, batting .375 with a .974 OPS in six games so far. Meanwhile, fellow catcher Carlos Narváez, though off to a slow start, is showing signs of breaking out based on his advanced hitting metrics. With the Red Sox's catching position now looking like a strength, the team has avoided the need to add another backstop in the offseason.

Why it matters

The Red Sox's turnaround and improved production from their catchers is an important development for the team, as they look to climb back into contention in the competitive AL East division. Strong play from Wong and Narváez could be a key factor in Boston's ability to make a playoff push this season.

The details

After a 6-9 start that had them in last place in the AL East, the Red Sox have now won four of their last five games, including series wins over the Brewers and Cardinals. Much of their recent success has been fueled by the bounce-back performance of catcher Connor Wong, who is batting .375 with a .974 OPS in six games this season. This is a major improvement over his dismal 2025 campaign, when he hit just .190 with zero home runs. Meanwhile, fellow catcher Carlos Narváez has gotten off to a slow start, batting .242 with no extra-base hits, but his advanced metrics suggest he is poised to break out soon, with strong numbers in exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and expected batting average.

  • The Red Sox kicked off a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Monday, April 13, 2026.
  • Boston had the worst record in the American League just a few days ago, but has now climbed to within two games of the division lead.

The players

Connor Wong

The Boston Red Sox catcher who is leading the team's bounce-back story in 2026 after a disappointing 2025 season.

Carlos Narváez

The other catcher for the Boston Red Sox, who is off to a slow start but showing signs of breaking out based on his advanced hitting metrics.

Garrett Crochet

The Boston Red Sox pitcher who is scheduled to start the team's series opener against the Minnesota Twins on Monday.

Willson Contreras

A star player for the Boston Red Sox who is helping to lead the team's turnaround.

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What’s next

The Red Sox will look to continue their recent momentum as they continue their three-game series against the Minnesota Twins, with Garrett Crochet scheduled to take the mound on Monday.

The takeaway

The resurgence of Boston's catching duo of Connor Wong and Carlos Narváez, combined with the overall talent on the Red Sox roster, suggests the team is poised to make a strong push back into contention in the AL East after a slow start to the season.