Alex Cora Admittedly ‘Tempted’ To Make This Red Sox Lineup Change

Kristian Campbell isn’t the only rookie who’s impressed for the Red Sox early this season.

Carlos Narváez has been a very pleasant surprise for Boston, which acquired the 26-year-old in a trade with the rival New York Yankees last December. Originally projected to be the club’s backup catcher, Narváez has usurped Connor Wong and become more of a regular behind the dish for Alex Cora’s club.

Narváez’s calling card was defense when he joined the Red Sox organization, and he clearly took a great deal of pride in handling the pitching staff. But the Venezuelan backstop also has been making an impact with his bat lately, so much so that there’s a part of Cora that wants to move Narváez up in the batting order.

“Am I tempted to move him up in the lineup? Yes,” Cora told reporters Wednesday, per MassLive. “But at the same time, I think he’s in a great place right now. So let’s keep it that way.”

Cora understandably doesn’t want to fix something that isn’t broken. Through 14 games in May hitting at the bottom of the Red Sox’s order, Narváez owns a .386 average with a pair of home runs and seven RBIs.

Narváez clearly is comfortable batting in his current spot. But if Boston as a whole doesn’t take off offensively soon, Cora might feel he has no choice but to move the catcher toward the meat of the order.