On Friday, the Red Sox (10-10) returned to Fenway Park for a seven-game homestand after spending their last two series on the road. The homestand starts with a four-game series with the White Sox (4-14), followed by a three-game series with the Mariners (10-9).
In his pregame media availability on Friday, manager Alex Cora provided an update on injured catcher Connor Wong, who is in the midst of an indefinite stay on the IL after suffering a slight fracture in his “pinky area” on his catching hand on April 7.
“[He’s] better - [hit] off the tee today,” said Cora. “He’s done some defensive work, but not actually caught bullpens or machine. But I gave him kind of like a timeline, and he’s like, ‘What? That’s too late.’ And I’m like, ‘OK, you’re feeling good, huh?’
“So I think they’re gonna add stuff offensively in the upcoming days. Hopefully he feels good. He feels like defensively, he’s no gonna have trouble. He’s gonna be OK. So if that happens, then a couple at bats, go down there, do your thing and join us as soon as possible.”
“Do you care to share that timeline with us?” Sean McAdam of MassLive follow-up.
“I was actually thinking like two-and-a-half weeks, right?” said Cora. “And he’s like, ‘Nah, nah.’ I’m like, ‘Well, we’ll see.’ But if he’s feeling that way, it’s great.”
Cora clarified that by saying two-and-a-half weeks, he meant that as a return to the big league club for Wong, and that he’s not surprised with how quickly Wong’s return could possibly be.
“That’s the way I see it,” said Cora. “Medical is probably screaming right now. We felt that it’s a small fracture that if we treat it the right way, he’ll be OK.”
Since Wong has been out of the lineup, Carlos Narvaez has been the stand-in starting catcher. On the year, Narvaez is batting .182 with an on-base percentage of .250 and a slugging percentage of .250. He has 8 hits, 4 RBI and has struck out 13 times in 48 plate appearances.
Despite Wong getting off to a slow start at the plate in 2025 - batting just .087 in 26 plate appearances - his career .308 OBP will be a welcome addition to the lineup upon his return.
In 2024, Wong had career highs in hits (125), home runs (13), runs batted in (52), batting average (.280), and on-base percentage (.333). Getting that type of production back in Boston's lineup in either the eight or nine hole would be a welcome addition for a team that has been as inconsistent as they come the first month of the season.
Sox will look to win their third straight game on Friday with Hunter Dobbins (1-0, 3.60 ERA) on the mound, with Martin Perez (1-0, 1.59 ERA) getting the start for Chicago. First pitch at Fenway Park is set for 7:10 p.m. ET.
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