Connor Wong’s breakout season has indeed been one of the highlights for the Boston Red Sox in 2024, showcasing his potential as a reliable catcher. In addition to Wong’s performance, the organization is looking forward to the debut of their top catching prospect, Kyle Teel, in 2025. Teel had an impressive season in the minor leagues, which has raised expectations for his future contributions to the team.
However, the Red Sox recently experienced a significant loss in catching depth. Trade deadline acquisition Danny Jansen is set to become a free agent, while Tyler Heineman was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays after spending most of the season in Triple-A. Furthermore, Reese McGuire elected free agency on September 30, leaving the Red Sox with fewer options at the catcher position.
Reese McGuire started the 2024 season as Boston’s backup catcher and had a promising beginning, batting .244/.333/.378 in April. However, his performance declined over the season, leading to a final slash line of .209/.280/.295 across 53 gamesffensive production waned, the Red Sox had to rely more on Connor Wong, who took on additional responsibilities either behind the plate or as the designated hitter. Wong’s performance also showed some fatigue due to the increased workload; he ended the season with a batting line of .280/.333/.425 and a .758 OPS, down from a higher average in the early part of the season.
Red Sox catcher Reese McGuire elects free agency, Boston may need to add another backup backstop this winter
After the departures of Danny Jansen and Tyler Heineman, the Red Sox are left with Connor Wong and Kyle Teel as their only catching options. Jansen was seen as a rental after McGuire was designated for assignment on July 28, and Heineman was considered a stopgap solution. The concern now is that Teel may not be ready for the big leagues when the season begins.
Teel had a solid season with Double-A Portland, posting a slash line of .298/.390/.462 over 84 games. However, he faced challenges when transitioning to Triple-A, slashing .255/.374/.343 in 28 games with the Worcester Red Sox (WooSox). This adjustment period suggests that the Red Sox might want to see more consistency from Teel before promoting him .
Given the uncertainty surrounding Teel’s readiness, the Red Sox should consider exploring backup catching options this offseason. Free agents like James McCann and Yasmani Grandal could provide the right-handed hitting depth the team desperately needs, especially if Teel isn’t prepared for the majors by March .
