The Boston Red Sox were blessed with several impressive rookies in 2025, led by outfielder Roman Anthony, who finished third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
He wasn’t the only Red Sox player to get votes, however, as teammate Carlos Narvaez finished sixth. Narvaez received two third-place votes, five fourth-place votes and five fifth-place votes, narrowly missing out on a top-five finish.
The 26-year-old backstop, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Yankees last December, hit the ground running in his first full season after playing just six games in 2024. He quickly took over as Boston’s starting catcher following a slow start by Connor Wong, making an immediate impact with his bat and leadership behind the plate.
Narvaez enjoyed an All-Star caliber first half before tailing off in the second half, posting a .786 OPS before the break compared to a .619 OPS after it. He battled a knee injury down the stretch, which required offseason meniscus surgery, and pitchers may have adjusted to him.
However, he still finished with impressive numbers despite playing considerable pain for a good chunk of the season, batting .241/.306/.419 with 15 home runs, 50 RBI and 2.6 WAR in 118 games.
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Narvaez also showed promise defensively, leading all catchers in caught stealing (32) and tying Bo Naylor for the most assists (58) at the position. He also ranked fourth among AL catchers in range factor per game (8.84) and was an AL Gold Glove finalist.
However, he’s still a bit raw and could still use some work behind the plate. Narvaez led AL catchers in passed balls and errors with nine apiece, plus catcher’s interference was a recurring problem for him. Hopefully those issues improve as he gains experience.
Regardless, like Anthony, Narvaez seems poised to be a key contributor for the Red Sox for years to come.
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Featured image via Ed Szczepanski/Imagn Images
