Even in a backup role, Connor Wong is killing the Red Sox

Welcome again to the Mayor’s Office, our weekly sequence during which Jake Wallinger sends one naughty member of Red Sox Nation to Mayor Michelle Wu’s office for self-discipline, public shaming, and penance as all of us attempt to construct a stronger baseball workforce and metropolis.

This week, it’s one of many worst hitters in all of baseball taking the Inexperienced Line as much as Authorities Middle.

This one hurts to do. The lone participant remaining from that foolish little commerce in February of 2020, Connor Wong, was a vibrant spot for the largely uninspiring 2024 Boston Red Sox. Connor slashed .280/.333/.425 for the membership, stable marks for a catcher. On protection, Wong was largely a blended bag, together with his caught stealing and pop time numbers being above common, however his blocking and framing being properly beneath common.

Quick ahead to July 2025. Whereas the protection has truly barely improved, the bat has cratered. Wong at the moment boasts a triple slash of .149/.235/.149. Sure, you learn that appropriately. In 98 plate appearances, Connor has mustered up 13 hits. 9 walks, 1 run batted in, and zero additional base hits. He’s the one participant in baseball (minimal 90 plate appearances) to not have a single XBH.

By wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus), Wong is the fourth-worst hitter within the sport. He leads solely Jacob Stallings, Jhonkensy Noel (that one kinda bums me out, his dwelling run within the ALCS final yr was sick), and Vinny Capra.

Clearly, the emergence of Carlos Narvaez has made this complete scenario a lot simpler to abdomen, however it’s changing into a bit untenable. A workforce with a implausible catcher goes to let that implausible begin roughly 75 % of the video games. Take Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers, for instance. He’s averaging round 130 video games every of the final 5 seasons. Carlos Narvaez, not like Will Smith, has already blown by his profession excessive in innings caught in a season. The Purple Sox are going to have to be additional cautious for the remainder of the season with their possible catcher of the remainder of the 2020s.

Picture by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Purple Sox/Getty Pictures

This brings us to the principle motive for our good friend Connor’s invitation to Metropolis Corridor. Time is working out. On the time of this text, the Purple Sox are in sole possession of the second American League Wild Card. They’ve, whether or not they grow to be actuality or not, precise postseason aspirations. 1 / 4 of the at-bats (possible extra with the way in which the group will need to shield Narvaez down the stretch) from the catcher place merely can’t be going to a person with an OPS+ of ELEVEN.

A latest report by MassLive’s Chris Cotillo linked the Purple Sox to previous good friend Christian Vazquez. Now, Vazquez wouldn’t actually be a significant improve in any manner in any respect, however the truth stays that the Purple Sox do appear to be poking round for a backup catcher. A transfer that, if made, would possible spell the tip of Connor’s time in Boston.

Mr. Wong, Mayor Wu will see you now.

Picture by Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald by way of Getty Pictures