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Red Sox Catcher Develops Relationship with Franchise Legend

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Griffin Goodwyn | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 3:10 PM ET

Carlos Narváez's tenure with the Boston Red Sox has not lasted very long. The 26-year-old catcher joined the team this past offseason via a trade with the New York Yankees, who shipped him to their biggest rivals after just six MLB appearances.

But in his brief time in Bean Town, Narváez has fostered a strong bond with Jason Varitek, a Red Sox legend who won three World Series championships and spent his entire 15-year career behind the dish at Fenway Park.

Varitek, who serves as the Red Sox's game planning and run prevention coach, has worked closely with Narváez since his arrival in December.

“He’s kind of like my second dad,” Narváez said in an interview posted on MLB's social media accounts. “He’s still our captain. He’s there for everything, if you’re doing bad or if you’re doing good.”

Narváez said he frequently meets with Varitek for advice and feedback, and he added that Varitek has served as a welcoming presence for him in the dugout.

“In the game, before the game or after the game, I always come to see him,” Narváez said. “Now, I feel [at] home. But at the beginning, since day one, he was awesome. Awesome with me, and I’m really thankful for that.”

Narváez, who took fellow Red Sox backstop Connor Wong's spot in the team's every-day lineup this year, has been a productive at the plate in his first full MLB season. Through 53 games, Narváez has posted a .279/.355/.458 slash line with 14 doubles, six home runs and 22 RBIs. In addition to scoring 29 runs himself, he has a 2.1 WAR, according to Baseball Reference.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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