The Yankees and Boston Crimson Sox each acknowledged Carlos Narvaez’s potential as an MLB catcher.
However the managers of each groups acknowledge they didn’t envision Narvaez hitting fairly like this.
Narvaez was the Crimson Sox’s cleanup hitter for Friday evening’s collection opener within the Bronx — his first journey there for the reason that Yankees traded him to Boston in December.
Identified for his protection, Narvaez has exceeded expectations on the plate, coming into Friday with a .288 common, 5 dwelling runs and an .812 OPS.
“This is obviously a really talented catcher, and a smart guy with an amazing head on his shoulders, amazing person, so not surprised by his success,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone stated.
“The level offensively — that he’s been this good, this early — maybe that’s caught me off [guard] a little bit, but there was no doubt in my mind that he was a big-league player.”
Initially signed as a global free agent in 2015, the Venezuelan-born Narvaez spent 9 years within the Yankees’ group. He made his MLB debut final season, showing in six video games and going 3-for-13.
Narvaez was enjoying winter ball in Venezuela when the Yankees traded him for pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and worldwide bonus pool house.
“I was kind of shocked a little bit because I didn’t expect it,” Narvaez stated Friday.
“I knew there were maybe a little more opportunities — at the moment, that’s what I felt — with Boston.”
Narvaez was a .250 hitter with a .746 OPS in his minor-league profession, however he struck out in 31.3% of his at-bats at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre final season.
That charge is right down to 26.9% with Boston.
“Offensively, we noticed a few things in winter ball that he did,” Crimson Sox supervisor Alex Cora stated Friday. “He went from [being] very direct to the ball to hitting fly balls, and with that the swing-and-miss came into play. He made adjustments again, and now he’s basically even.”
After they acquired Narvaez, the Crimson Sox envisioned him enjoying twice per week because the backup to starter Connor Wong.
However Wong fractured his left pinky finger in early April, costing him three weeks, and Narvaez has remained the starter ever since.
“So far, so good,” Cora stated. “I’d be lying to you if I thought, like, ‘Oh, he’s going to be an offensive guy and he’s going to hit fourth for the Red Sox, or fifth.’ But we knew that, defensively, he was going to be a force.”
Narvaez was one in every of eight catchers at the moment within the majors who appeared at Yankees spring coaching in 2024. The others embrace Yankees starter Austin Wells and backup J.C. Escarra, in addition to the Mets’ Luis Torrens.
“Super thankful for what they did for me,” Narvaez stated. “Really good at preparing players. The whole minor-league system is awesome. That was my first experience in pro ball. I’ve got a really good relationship there. … New York is always in my heart.”
It was with the Yankees’ group that Narvaez fashioned a detailed friendship with Oswaldo Cabrera, whom he describes as a “brother.”
Throughout the Crimson Sox’s off day Thursday, Narvaez visited Cabrera, who’s on the injured record after struggling a scary left ankle fracture that required him to go away in an ambulance.
“We spent like four hours together, just talking,” stated Narvaez, who went to Cabrera’s home. “I haven’t seen him after what happened to him, so that was a cool moment for us.”
Whereas Narvaez stated he now views Boston as his “home,” he anticipated this weekend’s collection at Yankee Stadium to be emotional.
“I’m super proud, super pumped for this opportunity,” Narvaez stated. “Being able to wear both uniforms, and now with the Red Sox, I’m super happy.”
ELMER’S EXCELLENCE
The Narvaez commerce is paying early dividends for the Yankees, too.
Rodriguez-Cruz, 21, entered Friday with a 3.38 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 48 innings over 9 begins at Excessive-A Hudson Valley this season.
The fitting-hander is the Yankees’ No. 6 prospect, in accordance with MLB Pipeline, which sees his potential as a mid-rotation starter.
LUKE’S OUTLOOK
Luke Weaver is already making progress along with his left hamstring pressure.
The reliever obtained a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection and has resumed throwing, Boone stated Friday. Weaver is on the injured record, retroactive to June 1, with ESPN reporting his timeline to return at four-to-six weeks.
“He’s doing quite well,” Boone stated Friday. “He was out already throwing yesterday. He’ll be doing his throwing program in the present day, so I just like the early phases the place he’s at.
“Expressing to me how he feels, he’s pretty encouraged and optimistic, considering the injury and the timeline on that. So hopefully he does better than that.”
