Red Sox Have Secret Assignment For Abraham Toro

Abraham Toro may not realize it, but the Boston Red Sox have him penciled in as their emergency catcher.

Before Friday’s game, Alex Cora told the Boston Globe’s Tim Healey, “He doesn’t know it, but it’s Toro,” revealing the versatile infielder’s little-known role.

Toro’s catching days date back to 2017, when he logged 17 games behind the plate for the Tri-City ValleyCats in the Houston Astros’ system.

That background gives Boston a fallback option as the team juggles its catching depth. The Red Sox claimed Ali Sanchez off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday while Carlos Narváez recovers from right knee soreness.

Sanchez, 28, has hit .279 with a .766 OPS and six home runs in 54 games at Triple-A Buffalo this season, along with five hits and two doubles in eight big-league appearances. Cora noted Sanchez’s spot depends on Narváez’s recovery timeline.

Narváez, injured Tuesday against Kansas City, reported “way better” progress after baseball activities Friday, per MassLive’s Christopher Smith, and expects the next two days to be critical in determining his status.

Toro, who has split time at first base with Romy Gonzalez while also seeing action at second and third, has delivered steady production in 2025 with six home runs, 24 RBI, a .255 average, .310 on-base percentage and .390 slugging percentage.

The “emergency catcher” role has a quirky place in Red Sox history. Doug Mirabelli’s police-escorted return in 2006 to catch Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball remains a fan favorite, while Triston Casas briefly held the title in 2023 despite never appearing in a game behind the plate.

For Boston, it is proof that even a little-used glove can carry outsized importance — and, on occasion, a lasting legacy.