Red Sox Re-Sign Fan Favorite Catcher To Pair With Connor Wong

Boston finally is giving this veteran a chance

Scott Neville | Jul 6, 2023

Red Sox Re-Sign Fan Favorite Catcher To Pair With Connor Wong /

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Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox upgraded a key position prior to Thursday's game, bringing back an old friend in the process.

The Red Sox signed rising fan-favorite catcher Jorge Alfaro to a big-league deal according to multiple reports from inside the clubhouse, including MassLive's Chris Cotillo. As a corresponding move, the Red Sox have designated fellow catcher Caleb Hamilton for assignment.

Alfaro quickly garnered attention among Red Sox Nation when he originally signed with the club this offseason due to his routinely viral home runs in winter ball, flare for the dramatic with the San Diego Padres last season and resemblance to Jason Momoa.

He proceeded to impress with the bat in his hand, and while he did not make the Red Sox's roster, he impressed the organization for months in Triple-A Worcester.

Alfaro hit .320 with 21 extra-base hits including six home runs, 30 RBIs and a .886 OPS in 43 games for the WooSox this season.

With no opportunities in Boston on the horizon, Alfaro exercised a June 1 opt-out and quickly landed with the Colorado Rockies. One month later, he was put back into free agency and has found a home on Boston's roster while Reese McGuire battles an oblique sprain.

The Red Sox have been forced to play Connor Wong heavily as of late, with Hamilton serving in a reserve role. The added veteran presence could allow for manager Alex Cora to divvy up the reps more evenly, though Wong still would be the primary option.

Alfaro is not a great defender and his bat is streaky at the big-league level but he'll provide some pop at the back of the order while McGuire is on the shelf.

More MLB: Red Sox Slugger May Undergo Position Change To Boost Boston's Offense

Published Jul 6, 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