Can the catcher catch?
The Positives
Offensively, Wong made strides. He improved his slash line from .235/.288/.385 to .280/.333/.425. If you’re a nerd and want to see how that stacks up with the rest of the league, his wRC+ increased from 78 to 110. If you’re not a nerd and don’t know what I’m talking about, in 2023 Wong created 22% fewer runs than the average player whereas in 2024 he created 10% more runs than the average hitter. He was particularly successful against lefties, slashing .311/.388/.489.
How’d he do it? The biggest change can be found in his plate discipline numbers. Wong made swing changes to simplify his approach at the plate. As a result, he chased fewer pitches, made more contact, and cut his strikeout rate by 10%. Putting the ball in play an extra time every ten plate appearances will never hurt, regardless of the quality of contact.
Defensively, Wong showed versatility. In addition to his catching duties, he spent time at first base, second base, and even left field. I can’t remember Wong being a complete liability at any of those spots which is more than I can say about some members of the 2024 Red Sox.
The Negatives
Let me preface this by saying that I like Connor Wong. He plays hard and seems like a good teammate. New father, easy guy to root for, yada yada yada. All that being said, the guy can’t catch. Considering his primary position behind the plate, that’s a problem.
According to the BaseballSavant’s catching metrics, Wong was near the bottom of the league at receiving the ball. While his throwing ability remains solid, he struggled severely with framing and blocking pitches. With the Red Sox pitching depth issues, catching miscues were hard to swallow.
I already covered Wong’s offense which was greatly improved, but it’s worth noting his production wasn’t linear.
As the season progressed, the catcher’s offensive output waned. As he broke out, he often punched the ball to right field for easy base hits. Over time, he started pulling the ball more frequently, often on the ground for routine groundouts. The overall production was exceptional, but it’s worth keeping an eye on going forward.
Best Moment
The Connor Wong game™.
The Big Question
Can he catch?
The Red Sox are likely to make moves to improve the pitching staff, a capable receiver is also necessary to maximize output. If Wong can’t improve at framing and blocking baseballs, he may have to find a new home in the field.
2025 and Beyond
Heading into 2025, Wong will most likely remain one of two catchers on the roster. At the same time, we’ve all heard so much about Kyle Teel as the future Red Sox backstop. If the hype is to be believed, he’ll likely push Wong into the short side of a platoon at some point in the near future. The Red Sox need right-handed bats. With Wong’s ability to hit left-handed pitching, relative versatility, and inexpensive years of control, he’s likely to stay at least on the bench for some time.