Jeez, what’s it with us selecting aside each single place on the sector? We simply seemingly solved first base with Nathaniel Lowe!
This catching challenge HAS to be talked about although.
Because the All Star Break, neither Carlos Narvaéz nor Connor Wong have hit the ball effectively in any respect. Neither are above the Mendoza Line in August, and for Narvaéz that goes even additional again into July. Every have totally different causes for his or her drop off and causes of concern.
Let’s begin with Narvaéz. The rookie has had a implausible breakout season, together with main the Majors in caught stealing by 5 runners; he has a walk-off in opposition to the workforce that discarded him; he even joined MLB Community to debate his season to this point, which is superior for him personally.
So what’s mistaken? Utilization time and, frankly, it’s Connor Wong’s fault. Except for being Brayan Bello’s private catcher, Wong appears to solely make sporadic begins, leaving Narvaéz to fend for himself in 92 video games performed to this point. He’s already been sidelined due to a knee challenge, so the wear and tear and tear on him is beginning to present. Can Narvaéz bounce again with the bat? Completely. His OPS+ remains to be 100, bang common. Is it essentially the most crucial challenge contemplating he’s among the finest defensive catchers within the league? Not in the mean time, however he’s gonna have to search out the time to step it up sooner or later.
Wong has been a MUCH greater concern for me. Connor Wong has been Connor Flawed nearly all season lengthy. A slash line of .169./239/.202/.441, solely 5 RBIs, no homers and solely 4 further base hits? His OPS+ is 26. 26! He’s to this point past substitute degree, it’s astounding. I used to be frankly shocked as a result of he was put into a really comparable place final yr and received the catching spot again. In 2024, he was in a race with Reese McGuire who had come out the gate HOT—but Wong maintained the consistency to assert catcher no. 1, a lot in order that it behooved the Pink Sox to DFA McGuire. Sure, they did commerce for Danny Jansen, however Jansen was the licensed backup and only a right-handed bat for bench stability. It was Wong’s backstop.
In 2025, there was zero pushback to Narvaéz taking the reigns behind house plate.
What hurts much more is there’s no finish to this in sight.
The Pink Sox selected to commerce backstop inheritor obvious Kyle Teel to the White Sox within the Garrett Crochet commerce, one thing nobody in Pink Sox Nation would ever say they remorse. Nonetheless, it leaves the group severely skinny to nearly empty at projectable Main League catchers. Newly signed Chadwick Tromp? Not the reply. Seby Zavala barely initiatives to be a backup, not constant sufficient on the dish regardless of energy. Ali Sanchez got here and went, I’d be shocked he even landed within the New England space.
Whether or not that is one thing the Pink Sox handle within the draft subsequent season, free company within the winter, or through the commerce market, what the membership has behind the dish isn’t sustainable for the long run. We will watch Narvy and luxuriate in for now, however I sincerely hope the dearth of depth at that place just isn’t solely observed by the entrance workplace, however addressed correctly.
