Red Sox Newcomer Gets Special Chance With Idolized Franchise Legend
Boston Red Sox newcomer Carlos Narváez grew up in Venezuela keeping a keen eye on the catching position.
His cousin, Omar Narváez, has played nine seasons in the big leagues and earned an All-Star appearance with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021. Carlos Narváez was also a big fan of catching greats Iván Rodríguez, Yadier Molina and Salvador Pérez.
There was one more catcher on Narváez’s list whom he idolized and it was none other than Red Sox legend Jason Varitek. Narváez, who was traded to the Red Sox from the Yankees in mid-December, will get the chance this season to work closely with Varitek, who serves as Boston’s game planning and run prevention coach.
“I loved Jason Varitek; how he took (a) leadership (role), too,” Narváez told reporters earlier this month at the Red Sox Rookie Development Program at Fenway Park, per MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “And just to have been able to meet him two days ago, that was special.”
Narváez is in line to be the backup catcher to Connor Wong after the Red Sox traded away Kyle Teel in the deal to obtain Garrett Crochet. Narváez will have competition for that spot from Blake Sabol, who the Red Sox acquired in a trade with the San Francisco Giants on Jan. 15.
Sabol does have the edge on Narváez when it comes to big-league experience. Sabol played 121 games for the Giants over the last two seasons and clubbed 13 home runs with 44 RBIs in 2023. Meanwhile, Narváez spent eight seasons in the Yankees minor league system before making his MLB debut this past year. He played just six games for the Yankees in 2024 and batted .231 (3-for-13).
Red Sox manager Alex Cora does like what Narváez can offer behind the plate.
“(He’s a) physical, strong kid, good athlete, good framer,” Cora said at Fenway Fest. “I talked to (Yankees manager Aaron Boone) about him. He really likes him as a person. He did an outstanding job offensively in Venezuela. It will be good for him to get at-bats (in spring training) and let’s see.”
