Red Sox Catcher Set To Make MLB History Against Former Team

Alex Cora understands the unusual intrigue around Monday’s continuation of a suspended Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays game.

And the Red Sox manager is eager to play into it.

Cora confirmed Friday that he plans to play Danny Jansen in the resumed contest, which will make MLB history with the Red Sox catcher being the first player to ever appear for both teams in the same game.

Jansen, who the Red Sox acquired in late July prior to the trade deadline, was in the batter’s box with a Blue Jays jersey on and facing an 0-1 count in the top of the second inning when play was halted on June 26 due to severe rain.

“I’ve been getting texts from (baseball reporters) Jayson Stark and Buster Olney, ‘Is he going to catch?’ You know what? Yeah, he’s catching. Let’s make history,” Cora told reporters prior to facing the Arizona Diamondbacks at Fenway Park, per MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “We’ll see how it goes the next two days as far as like the pitching. But we have a pretty good idea of what we’re going to do that day and it makes sense (to play Jansen).”

Jansen will take Reese McGuire’s spot in the Red Sox lineup for the game. McGuire currently is with Triple-A Worcester after being designated for assignment a day after Boston traded for Jansen.

With Jansen behind the plate catching for the Red Sox, it means the Blue Jays will need to send a pinch hitter to the plate to begin things when plays resumes.

First pitch of what will be a history-making game — and a day-night doubleheader — is set for Monday at 2:05 p.m. ET. You can watch both games on NESN.