The Boston Red Sox on October 9 shared injury updates for both members of their 2025 catching tandem — one fans were expecting, and one surprise.
Boston had previously announced that starting catcher Carlos Narváez would undergo surgery to repair his meniscus, an injury which flared up a few times throughout the season. It announced that Connor Wong had surgery, as well.
Wong underwent a right hand carpal boss excision on October 9 at Mass General Brigham Hospital, the Red Sox announced. A carpal boss is a bony growth on the back of the hand that can be caused by overuse or trauma, among other things. They usually do not cause any pain.
Wong fractured his pinky finger early in the season and the Red Sox placed him on the injured list on April 8. He was activated to the roster on May 2, and Narváez took over as the primary catcher while Wong recovered. Narváez performed so well that he remained Boston's No. 1 backstop for the rest of the season. There is no confirmation that Wong's finger fracture led to the carpal boss and eventual surgery, but it isn't hard to speculate after his down season.
Red Sox announce surprise hand surgery for Connor Wong after down 2025 season
The Red Sox and fans expected big things from Wong in 2025 after his breakout offensive season last year. In 2024, the catcher slashed .280/.333/.425 with a .758 OPS over 123 games, and he was one of Boston's best hitters before the All-Star break, with a .307/.367/.443 slash line.
Wong's offensive production decreased drastically in 2025, although he got much less playing time due to Narváez's breakout and outstanding defensive performance. Wong batted .190/.262/.238 with just eight extra-base hits in 63 games on the season.
There's no telling when Wong developed the carpal boss, but the Red Sox didn't have the catching personnel to allow him to undergo surgery during the regular season, which explains why Narváez also played through a meniscus tear. Boston called up backup catchers Blake Sabol and Alí Sánchez at different times during the season, but neither got more than eight games of playing time in the big leagues.
Hopefully, Wong can bounce back to his 2024 self after his hand surgery. Narváez has asserted himself as the Sox's primary catcher, but he lost steam toward the end of the season and had a rough second half at the plate. Wong may be able to pick up some more starts when his hand is fully healed.