Alex Cora Sent This Message To Red Sox Rookie After Key Injury

Life came at Carlos Narváez pretty fast.

Narváez, who the Red Sox acquired in a trade with the Yankees back in December, was poised to be Boston’s backup catcher for the 2025 season. The setup figured to provide valuable learning experiences for a young backstop who joined the Red Sox with only six MLB games under his belt.

But merely 11 games into Boston’s season, Narváez found himself as the club’s primary catcher. Connor Wong currently is dealing with a fractured finger, and it’s unclear when the 28-year-old will be able to return behind the dish. Wong landing on the injured list prompted a significantly increased workload for Narváez, who started eight of the Red Sox’s last nine games.

Boston surely is keeping expectations tempered for a 26-year-old with so little big league experience. But there is one responsibility Narváez was tasked with mastering upon climbing the depth chart.

“I told him, you have to lead the pitching staff,” manager Alex Cora told reporters Wednesday, per The Boston Globe. “That’s the most important thing.”

For the most part, Red Sox pitchers have worked well with Narváez since Wong went down. Boston allowed four runs or fewer in six of Narváez’s last eight starts and won four of those contests.

However, there’s a chance Cora and company will lighten Narváez’s plate in the coming weeks. The Red Sox recently signed two-time All-Star Yasmani Grandal to a minor-league contract, and the club has until May 1 to make a key decision on the veteran catcher.