Is Connor Wong a Viable Solution at Second Base for the Red Sox?

Two weeks before pitchers and catchers report, the Boston Red Sox still have a hole at second base. Their solution might already be on the roster.

Catchers are a stalwart presence behind the plate. When I think of catchers, players with sturdier builds — Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, and Jason Varitek — immediately come to mind. Listed at 5’10”, 190 lbs, Connor Wong is not built like your typical catcher. Why? His original position in college (University of Houston) was shortstop. He transitioned to a catcher during his sophomore year.

Wong’s performance hasn’t been the tour de force that was expected from one of the key pieces of the Mookie Betts trade. His defense and bat have never flourished concurrently. In 2024, he outperformed his expected offensive stats (.051 BA-xBA, .063 SLG-xSLG, and .039 wOBA-xWOBA), but his defense was subpar (-13 Blocks Above Average and -8 Framing Runs). The next year, things flipped. In 2025, Wong’s defense initially improved before a hand injury cut his playing time early in the season. Upon his return, Carlos Narváez’s breakout performance relegated him to a backup role. Wong finished the season with a .190 BA, .500 OPS, and a 39 wRC+.

With less than two weeks until pitchers and catchers report, the Red Sox have a glaring hole at second base. Since Dustin Pedroia’s abrupt career-ending knee injury, second base depth has been the red-headed stepchild for the Red Sox’s roster construction. (You can also argue the same for catcher since Christian Vázquez was moved at the 2022 trade deadline.) External paths forward are limited. Ketel Marte is staying with the Diamondbacks. Nico Hoerner’s asking price is too high. If the Phillies had signed Bo Bichette, I would’ve loved a trade for Bryson Stott, but that’s wistful thinking. I’ve been beating the “Trade Jarren Duran” drum throughout the offseason, though I’d rather keep him than ship him off to Houston in a trade for Isaac Paredes.

As for the other spots in the infield, shortstop is veteran Trevor Story’s position (if he can stay healthy for a second consecutive season), and Marcelo Mayer will likely start at third base, potentially sharing a platoon with Romy Gonzalez and/or Nick Sogard. The remaining depth of Gonzalez, Sogard, David Hamilton, and Nate Eaton doesn’t instill much confidence as an everyday player at second. Yet, the Red Sox’s solution might already be on the roster.

Wong’s development has been zero-sum; every gain, whether defensive or offensive, has come at the other’s expense. What if the problem isn’t Wong, but his position? What happens to his production when he’s not catching?

The Case for Connor Wong at Second

Wong has logged a whopping total of 29 innings at second base. At catcher, he’s a career .250 hitter with a 90 wRC+ across 1,059 PA. At second, he’s yielded a .364 average with a 109 wRC+ across 11 plate appearances, a notable improvement, albeit in a very small sample size. To Wong’s credit, his offensive stats aren’t terrible; they’re average. Last year was an anomaly with injuries tanking his production.

Wong’s defense at second base is marginally below average, posting a minus-1 OAA and a FRV of -1 in 29 innings, but his skillset and raw athleticism suggest his floor is higher than his numbers indicate.

Modern catchers are more athletic than ever, but they display a different kind of athleticism that factors in blocking, framing, and throwing. Wong’s atypical build fails him in his blocking ability. Since 2023, he’s recorded -25 Blocks Above Average, the second-worst in baseball, and his framing is unremarkable (-15 Framing Runs). Wong’s injury history reflects the physical toll catching has taken on his body: 

• March 2023: Left hamstring injury
• April 2025: Left pinky fracture
• 2025 offseason: Right-hand carpal boss excision

Arm strength matters less at second compared to shortstop or third, but Wong’s is more than adequate. In 2024, Wong posted a 1.95 average pop time to second base (63rd percentile). Injuries slowed that to 1.97 in 2025 (39th percentile). Wong pairs quick transfer with throwing accuracy, finishing in the top 30% of CS Above Average (+3). His catcher arm strength graded at 81.4 mph in 2025. For comparison, Nico Hoerner’s sits at 75.5 mph and Brice Turang's at 80.1 mph. 

The common thread between catcher and second is making quick, targeted throws under pressure in awkward positions. Behind the plate, that means hitting the fielder’s glove at second from over 127 ft away while a runner barrels towards the bag. At second, turning a 4-6-3 double play requires fast hands, clean transfer, arm strength, and accuracy. Wong’s best defensive plays highlight this skillset and the instincts of a middle infielder, not a catcher. 

Most catchers aren’t expected to wreak havoc on the basepaths. They’re not usually built for it, and crouching for over two hours drains their battery. Wong, however, possesses elite sprint speed. A move to second would give him more opportunities to use it.

That’s not to say there isn’t a downside. Moving Wong to second fixes one problem, but creates another at his old position. The remaining free-agent catchers won’t move the needle. Narváez struggled in the second half of his rookie season and is coming off meniscus surgery. Backup catcher could be a critical role, and moving Wong would strain the team’s already limited catching depth.

My suggestion? Let Wong take reps at second in spring training. It’s a low-risk environment to explore whether both sides of his game can coexist away from catching. What is there to lose?