BOSTON -- After an offseason of defensive adjustments with new catching instructor Parker Guinn, Connor Wong was looking forward to putting together his best all-around season.
While that could still happen, it will now be a shortened season.
The Red Sox lost their starting catcher in Monday night¡¯s 6-2 loss to the Blue Jays at Fenway Park when Wong broke his left pinkie finger on a catcher's interference with George Springer at the plate in the first inning.
He was placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday¡¯s game, and the Red Sox recalled catcher Blake Sabol from Triple-A Worcester. Carlos Narv¨¢ez will get the majority of the reps behind the plate while Wong is out.
¡°The fracture, we¡¯ll take a look at it on a weekly basis,¡± said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. ¡°It's a very small one. As the hand specialist was explaining, this is the best case scenario. So hopefully he'll be back with us sooner rather than later.¡±
¡°I¡¯m obviously frustrated,¡± said Wong. ¡°I feel like that¡¯s something we go over, who the potential catcher's interference people are. I knew that going in [against Springer]. I felt like I was in a good spot and [it was] just bad luck I think.¡±
The Red Sox are high on Narv¨¢ez as a defender, and he¡¯s off to a strong start at the plate, going 6-for-18 with three doubles. Heading into this season, he had only played six games in the Majors, all with the Yankees in 2024.
The Red Sox traded their catcher of the future in Kyle Teel to the White Sox in December as part of the four-prospect package that landed ace Garrett Crochet.
The 27-year-old Sabol, who is on the 40-man roster, is known more for his bat than his glove. In 121 career games for the Giants, the left-handed hitter had a batting line of .243/.313/.392 with 13 homers and 45 RBIs.