Ex-Red Sox Catcher Reunites With Former Battery Mate On Pirates

Two members of the 2022 Red Sox team up to aid the rebuilding Pirates

Scott Neville | Feb 13, 2023

Ex-Red Sox Catcher Reunites With Former Battery Mate On Pirates /

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Boston Red Sox fans gained a new reason to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates on Super Bowl Sunday -- just like we all expected.

The Pirates signed catcher Kevin Plawecki to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. The 31-year-old will make a $1.5 million in 2023 should he make the big-league roster according to WEEI's Rob Bradford.

Plawecki was not a core member of the Red Sox's on-field production but he made his mark on the franchise during his three-season stint. The backstop was instrumental in the creation of the home run cart celebration and was responsible for Calum Scott's version of "Dancing On My Own" becoming the Red Sox's 2021 postseason anthem.

Plawecki hit .270 with 26 extra-base hits including five home runs, 44 RBIs and a .697 OPS in 148 games as a Red Sox catcher.

He'll join left-handed swingman Rich Hill on the Pirates. The duo brought veteran leadership to Boston and will be leaned on even more heavily with the Pirates -- both on and off the field.

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Published Feb 13, 2023

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu