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Aaron Boone knew Carlos Narváez was a major leaguer.

He did not know that when the Yankees traded the young catcher to the Red Sox in December, Narváez would return as Boston’s cleanup hitter and a potential AL All-Star in his rookie season.

“But I know how much I love the player and the person. I’m not surprised he’s having success,” the Yankees manager said before beginning a series with the Red Sox in The Bronx on Friday. “This is obviously a really talented catcher and a really smart guy with an amazing head on his shoulders.”

The Yankees know plenty about Narváez after he spent nine years in the organization, signing out of Venezuela in 2015 and playing 497 minor league games from 2016-24.

Last year, he finally got his chance — kind of — in debuting in July, when Jose Trevino hit the injured list. Narváez backed up Austin Wells and played in six games, going 3-for-13, before his opportunity ended.

A franchise teeming with catching talent then sent Narváez to Boston, clearing a 40-man roster spot and receiving promising righty prospect Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and international bonus pool space.

The deal “shocked” Narváez, he said, but then he considered that “maybe a little more opportunities” existed with the Red Sox.

He was right and won a job out of camp.

What seemed to be a minor trade has had major implications for the Red Sox, who have watched a catcher they knew could defend — “He’s one of the best defensive catchers in the big leagues,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said — blossom with the bat, entering play hitting .288 with an .812 OPS in his first 47 games this year.

“I’d be lying to you if [I said] I thought, like, ‘Oh, he’s going to be an offensive guy,’” Cora said of the 26-year-old. “‘He’s going to hit fourth for the Red Sox or fifth.’ But we knew that defensively he was going to be a force.”

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Narváez arrived at Yankee Stadium without revenge in mind.

He called the organization “awesome” and said he is “super thankful” for the franchise that gave him his first professional contract.

One of his best friends is Oswaldo Cabrera, another Venezuelan with whom he visited Thursday night.

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He also shares a bond with the Yankees catchers who reported to major league spring training in 2024.

The most impressive factoid concerning the Yankees’ catching pipeline is he (with the Red Sox), Agustín Ramírez (Marlins), Luis Torrens (Mets), Trevino (Reds), Ben Rortvedt (Rays) and Wells, Ben Rice and J.C. Escarra all have played in the majors one year later.

“I’m super proud to be in that group,” said Narváez, who added that when the Red Sox played the Mets last month, he and Torrens talked about being a part of the 2024 Eight. “It’s so cool that everyone found their own way to get to the big leagues.”

The Yankees have stuck with Wells as their primary catcher while Escarra backs up and Rice — who has seen most of his time at DH/first base — still practices catching to attempt to stay ready.

“They have a great program over there, as far as defensive catchers,” Cora said. “They’ve done an amazing job throughout the last few years.”