Red Sox’s Alex Cora Issues Positive Connor Wong Injury Update

The Boston Red Sox have worked around the absence of catcher Connor Wong, but it seems like it won’t be too much longer until the 28-year-old rejoins the team.

Wong was charged with catcher’s interference two weeks ago against the Toronto Blue Jays, and the swing from George Springer resulted in the five-year veteran suffering a left pinky finger fracture. The Red Sox have since leaned on backup catcher Carlos Narváez and rookie Blake Sabol — called up from Triple-A Worcester — to keep the backstop filled in the wake of Wong’s absence.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora provided a positive update on Wong before the team took the field to begin a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.

“(He’s) swinging a little bit,” Cora told reporters at Fenway Park, per MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “I think that’s the big step today. So hopefully we can speed up the process and he’ll be with us sooner rather than later.”

Wong worked in the bullpen alongside pitcher Kutter Crawford, who is also rehabbing from a right patellar tendinopathy. The plan is for Wong to continue racking up bullpen sessions and swings before Cora can offer a more definitive return date. But until then, the Red Sox could also turn to two-time All-Star Yasmani Grandal, currently in Worcester, who the team signed to a minor league deal shortly following Wong’s injury.

It’s been a slow start offensively for Wong to begin the clean slate. He’s hitting .087/.192/.279 with zero extra-base hits and no RBIs after going 2-for-23 to begin the season. So when the time comes, Wong is gonna need a major turnaround at the plate to get back on track.