There was an unexpected, familiar face in the Red Sox clubhouse on Thursday afternoon.
With Reese McGuire continuing to recover from an oblique strain, Jorge Alfaro is back with the organization on a Major League deal. Fellow catcher Caleb Hamilton designated for assignment as the corresponding move.
During his first stint with the Red Sox, which spanned spring training and the beginning of the minor league season, Alfaro worked diligently to improve his defense.
“You always want to get better,” he said. “I like to work, and if it’s gonna make me better, I’m not afraid to do it. I’m not gonna waste time, I’m gonna go to work, and try to get better.”
With guidance from Jason Varitek and the coaches in Triple-A, he showed improvement. The Red Sox took notice. So much so that it was Cora’s first comment in Thursday’s pregame media availability.
“Behind the plate, he made some progress in spring training,” Alex Cora said. “We saw this window to get him here. Obviously, Reese is taking longer. He’s progressing, but it’s gonna take a while, it feels like.”
Thus, Alfaro is back, and will get a chance to prove himself at Fenway before the All-Star break, which will cap off a whirlwind stretch for the catcher.
Nicknamed ‘Aquaman’ for his resemblance to actor Jason Momoa, Alfaro began the season with the organization, on a minor league contract. Though the catcher was successful in Triple-A Worcester, hitting .320 with a .887 OPS, 61 hits, 13 doubles, and seven homers in 43 games, the Red Sox never called him up.
When he didn’t reach the majors by the end of May, he was able to opt out of his contract on June 1. The Red Sox granted his release on June 3, and he signed a minor league deal with Colorado on June 10. In an ironic twist, the Rockies added him to the 40-man roster on June 15, the day after they won two of three against the Red Sox at Fenway.
Alfaro only appeared in 10 games for the Rockies before being designated for assignment on June 30. He went 5-for-31 (.161) with zero walks and 12 strikeouts, but his five hits were four doubles and a home run. When they tried to outright him to Triple-A on Wednesday, he refused the assignment, as is the right of a player with more than five years of service time.
“It didn’t take that long” for the Red Sox to call, he said, and he’s glad they did. “I didn’t want to leave, I wanted to stay here.”
Spring training is a fairly short amount of time, especially for a catcher who missed part of the preseason to play in the World Baseball Classic. Even so, he developed a good relationship with Varitek, and was, therefore, happy to pick up where they left off at Fenway.
“It’s not just work, you know? You have fun, and you learn a lot from him,” he said of training with the longtime Red Sox catcher and captain-turned-coach, whose legendary career he watched growing up. “I saw him playing on TV, and it’s always gonna be like, a nice time to at least, like, play catch with him.”
Alfaro is the 38th player in franchise history to wear No. 38, but this is his first American League team. The former top catching prospect debuted with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2016, and also played for the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres. He’s played at Fenway Park before, but always as a visitor. Sitting in the home dugout for the first time, he was, admittedly, moved by his surroundings.
“This means history,” he said. “It feels great, and the atmosphere on the field during the game, it feels good, even if you’re a visiting team. I can’t imagine right now, and I mean, I thank God that I’m gonna get the opportunity to be part of the home team.”
With Nathan Eovaldi taking the mound for Thursday night’s series finale, his former manager’s nostalgic side kicked into high gear.
In hindsight, the Eovaldi acquisition is one of the franchise’s greatest midseason trades, but the Red Sox manager remembers that the move wasn’t exactly warmly welcomed at the time.
“There’s a lot of people here that were disappointed at that move, kind of like, ‘What? They just got a reliever? You know, at that point, they needed a starter.’ Well, we got a reliever and a starter at the same time,” Cora recalled. “That’s probably one of the best moves that they made that year.
“Put us over the hump,” he added. “Stuff-wise, he was elite.”
When Eovaldi arrived in August 2018, he quickly became known for his work ethic, and devotion, not only to the team, but the city. “Nasty Nate” gave his all during two playoff runs, including a stunning relief appearance in Game 3 of the ’18 World Series, which would end up breaking the record for longest postseason game in Major League history.
“Great in the clubhouse, great in the community. Captain of the Jimmy Fund, that means more than what he did for us on the field.”
As such, losing the right-hander was one of last offseason’s biggest blows. Cora is adamant that the Red Sox worked hard to bring Eovaldi back during the offseason. “It just didn’t work out. It wasn’t lack of effort, I can tell you that. I can guarantee you,” he said.
“Everything we asked for since Day One,” Cora said of the right-hander. “(The Eovaldis) bought into it. They love it. This isn’t not for everybody. And since Day 1, he wasn’t afraid of the noise or afraid of the expectations. He took it, you know, and he ran with it, even last year, when he was banged up, he wanted to contribute.”
Even so, the pitcher may not be the Eovaldi missed most by the team. His wife, Bekah, is a prolific baker. She would often whip up creative confections for the team, and share them on her @bekahspinkaproncakes Instagram account.
Cora was thrilled to find out that a fresh batch of cookies made the road trip, earmarked for him.
“Bekah? Amazing. We miss her. I think we miss Bekah more than we miss Nate,” he said with a smile. “The cookies and cakes, all that. Actually, she sent me some carrot cookies for this road trip, amazing.”
After a “great” doctor’s appointment this week, Tanner Houck (facial fracture) will begin throwing on July 11.
John Schreiber is expected to go on a rehab assignment this weekend, and Corey Kluber is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Saturday.
James Paxton will return from the Paternity List this weekend and start Saturday evening against the Oakland A’s.
Sunday’s series finale concludes the first half of the season, with the All-Star break beginning Monday.