Red Sox will place Connor Wong (broken finger) on IL, call up Blake Sabol to take roster spot (2025)

BOSTON — The Red Sox had their share of injuries hit during spring training, with three projected starting pitchers sidelined before Opening Day even arrived.

Now, the injury bug has struck again, less than two weeks into the start of the regular season.

Catcher Connor Wong suffered a fracture in his left pinky finger when Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer’s bat struck his hand on the follow-through to his swing in the top of the first inning. Wong, who was charged with catcher’s interference on the play, will be placed on the IL and a timetable for his return is unknown.

“Late swing got him good,” said Alex Cora, “so we’re going to have to make a move.‘’

The Red Sox’ options to replace Wong, who had struggled mightily at the plate, are not plentiful. It would seem that Carlos Narváez, who impressed the Sox in spring training and who’s off to a nice start at the plate (6-for-18 with three doubles) will likely inherit most of the playing time in Wong’s absence.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox intend to promote Blake Sabol, whom they obtained from San Francisco over the winter, as the backup to Narvaez, according to a source. He’s the only other catcher on the team’s 40-man roster, which is currently full.

Narvaez doesn’t have much big league experience — he got into six games for the Yankees last season — but the Sox are intrigued by his potential.

“Tough loss for us,” said Narvaez of the injury to Wong. “Nobody wants that. Connor has been a very important piece for us. Hopefully, he’s going to be back soon. In the meantime, while he’s out, I’m going to take accountability to help the team win every game.”

After the blow to his left hand, Wong was attended to by a member of the training staff and remained in the game for the remainder of the inning.

But in between innings, the finger became swollen and numb and the Sox removed him from the game.

“Obviously, frustrated,” said Wong of the mishap. “I feel that’s something we go over as a unit, knowing who the potential ‘catcher interference guys’ are. I knew that going in and I felt like I was in a good spot. It was just bad luck, I think.

“I feel like on that one, it was more so (a matter) of saving a strike (with framing). I was set up down-and-away on a breaking ball and I saw it pop up there and wanted to make sure I was able to catch it and stick it. (Springer) caught me on his swing. I have had a couple of catcher’s interferences, but this one was a lot more flush than any of the other ones.”