Why Connor Wong Got First Career Start At First Base Vs. Rangers

It wasn’t a typo in Alex Cora’s starting lineup Saturday that he penciled in Connor Wong to play first base.

Wong, the primary catcher of the Red Sox, will get his first career start at the corner infield spot when Boston takes on the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Wong has very limited experience at first base, having logged only 9 2/3 innings at the position in his career.

“I’m pretty sure this will be my first start at first base, in my life,” Wong told reporters prior to the game, per MassLive’s Sean McAdam. “Not even in Little League — too short.”

But Cora had a reason for going with this experiment. According to McAdam, the Red Sox skipper told reporters prior to the contest that he wanted to get as many right-handed hitters in the lineup as possible with Boston dealing with left-handed pitcher Cody Bradford on the mound. Wong was initially not in the starting lineup, but was forced into action with Tyler O’Neill out for the game since he’s feeling sick.

So, Cora will sacrifice Wong’s defensive limitations for his bat as the 28-year-old is coming off a four-hit performance in a series-opening win over the Rangers. Wong is also batting .324 against lefties on the season, which is the top mark on the team.

Wong had made six appearances at first this season and has also little experience playing second base, having done so 10 times in his career.

“He’s played (first) in close games, (including) some extra-inning games,” Cora told reporters, per McAdam. “We were one play away from losing the game, so….There’s nine innings to mess it up, it’s a lot easier. He’ll be OK.”

Wong doesn’t necessarily seem worried about playing first base, either, even though he admitted he hasn’t exactly had time to get in some practice at the position in the lead-up to his start there.

“I will get some work today. I usually do catching work while they’re doing ground balls before batting practice,” Wong said. “(My plan) is to go out there and try to be an athlete, right? I don’t want to say it’s easy and I’m not going to sit here and say it’s hard. So I’ll just go out there and be an athlete and do my best.”