Red Sox Make Important Roster Decision Amid Competition

Connor Wong is the given starter and while Narváez as the backup was hardly in doubt, sending Sabol down solidifies the duo for Opening Day.

Wong enters his third season as the primary catcher after making 126 appearances in each of the last two years. The 28-year-old had a career campaign at the plate in 2024 with a .280 batting average, .758 OPS, 13 home runs, and 52 RBIs, and he even mixed in eight stolen bases on 15 attempts.

Wong has not been a stalwart behind the plate and will need to improve his blocking to take that next step. But, that’s where Narváez comes in.

The 26-year-old has always been known for his great defensive play and is the perfect candidate to relieve Wong. He was acquired from the New York Yankees in a rare offseason trade between the rivals.

Narváez only has 13 Major League at-bats under his belt, but he is strong enough defensively that even minor contributions at the plate are a plus. Also, he is probably in line for only about 30-40 starts and could make for a useful, late-inning substitute.

Sabol figures to start at catcher for triple-A Worcester and brings a versatile element. He can also play first base and corner outfield in addition to his catching duties.

Catcher projects as one of the weaker positions on a talented Red Sox team, but with Wong as the yin to Narváez’s yang, this duo could be a quiet bright spot this summer.