Josh Winckowski on working with Connor Wong last season: 'I think he does a really good job with individual game plans for pitchers'
There’s been a lot written since the ending of the 2022 season as to who might be the catching duo for the 2023 Red Sox. Connor Wong and Reese McGuire finished the season as the catching duo on the major league roster. Wong who was the WooSox 2022 MVP, tore the cover off the ball offensively and earned the trust and respect of his fellow pitchers and coaches.
Red Sox pitcher Josh Winckowski spoke highly of Wong, citing his hard work and preparation with the pitching staff.
“I played with Connor Wong a little bit last year, and then we were down in Triple-A together at the start of the year. Um, he himself is another guy he cares about his craft a ton. He’s always working on stuff behind the plate. Wong behind the plate, I think he does a really good job pitcher to pitcher. All the Triple-A pitchers loved him. I think he does a really good job with individual game plans for pitchers,” Winckowski said in an exclusive interview with Beyond the Monster.
He also praised Wong’s red hot bat that helped carry the WooSox during summer.
“I think there was a stretch in Triple-A where Connor Wong and Oso (Ronaldo Hernandez) were both the two hottest hitters on the planet. They were filling our catcher and DH position everyday, it was the production out of those guys was unreal.”
Prior to Wong’s Sept. 1 promotion, the Texas native was showing off his power stroke belting nine homers in the 16 games. During that 16 game span, Wong’s numbers were impressive, he batted .368 with a .411 on-base percentage, .838 slugging percentage, 1.249 OPS, five doubles, 14 runs and 22 RBIs.
“I’ve seen guys go on hot stretches before, but I know Wong and Oso this year have both hit stretches where you’re looking at three or four home runs in a week or in six games.”
Josh Winckowski on Reese Mcguire: ‘You Can Tell He Cares a Ton’
Game planning coordinator and catching coach Jason Varitek said to MassLive last season that Wong has gone from a catcher without a ton of experience when the Sox acquired him. He has now become a “solidifying who he is as a receiver.”
The University of Houston product on his ability behind the plate, “I feel like I’m catching the ball cleaner. I’ve seen more pitches in the last few years than I had. I’ve somewhat built a library in my head like, ‘OK, I’ve kind of seen this pitch before. I know how I need to receive it.’ And then working with Tek, it’s been unbelievable. He absolutely gets it from the physical side, the mental side. He’s able to communicate things that he’s felt. I think that’s important for players having a guy like Tek who has been through it for a long time and understands the things that you deal with behind the plate. His knowledge of the newer way of receiving vs. what he was taught, his knowledge of that is more than anyone would ever think just based on what he did for so long and what’s ingrained in him. But his ability to just learn the new style and be able to coach it at a high level is really good.”
Wong was one of the three players acquired in the Mookie Betts trade back in Feb. 2020. He’s never been considered a top prospect, however, Baseball America has labeled Wong as the organization’s best defensive catching prospect.
Providing Chaim Bloom doesn't upgrade the catching position through a trade or free agency, Wong should backup McGuire next season.
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