Christian Rafael Vázquez (pronounced VOSS-kez)...Instagram: @1990colo (1990 for his birth year and 'colo' for color as reference to his red hair color)...Has a wife, Gabriela (married in 2018)...The couple has three sons, Diego (born in November 2019), Daniel (born April 2022) and Dilan (born September 2024)...Graduated from Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in 2008...On Jan. 6, 2018 (Three Kings Day), he helped hand out toys to children in some of the island’s poor communities...In January 2018, helped deliver nearly 10 tons of supplies to aid Hurricane Maria recovery efforts...The JetBlue plane cargo included medical supplies and vaccines, water filtration systems, first aid kits, flashlights and diapers...In Caguas, he helped distribute food, water and supplies to nearly 300 families, as well as baseball equipment to roughly 100 children...Signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans at Red Sox Winter Weekend in 2015, ‘16, ‘18 and ‘20...Along with his wife, spearheaded the Red Sox’s Players Favorite Things basket auction in 2021 that benefitted The BASE...Played Minor League ball with Twins assistant GM Alex Hassan while at Short-A Lowell in Boston's organization...Hassan shared a story that one day he sat behind Vázquez on the bus during a team road trip and Hassan could see Vázquez's laptop on AOL Instant Messenger in the seat in front of him; Vázquez's screen name was mlboneday...Chose uniform number eight for Minnesota because he wanted seven (retired: Joe Mauer) and nine (worn by Trevor Larnach), so settled in the middle...He wore number seven for Boston and number nine for Houston...Enjoys Starbucks coffee (lattes) and passes on other coffee shop options...Participated in 2023 and 2024 TwinsFest at Target Field...If he wasn't a baseball player, he would be an athletic trainer.
2024
Was on Twins' Opening Day roster as one of club's two catchers, splitting time with Ryan Jeffers for majority of season...Played one out at third base on April 12 at Detroit...Twins removed Carlos Correa due to injury, sliding Kyle Farmer to shortstop and Willi Castro to pitcher to close out an 8-2 loss to Tigers...First time playing third base since July 2021 with Boston...Slashed just .181/.207/.252 (.459 OPS) in 48 games through June, but hit .304 (34-for-112) with five doubles, five home runs, 16 RBI and an .813 OPS in 37 games from July 1-Sept. 11...Hit third career walk-off home run on July 7 vs. Houston, a solo shot off Josh Hader in the ninth inning that gave the Twins a 3-2 victory...Made first career start at third base on July 13 at San Francisco, played all 9.0 innings and never had any fielding opportunities...Forced to play third with Jose Miranda, Royce Lewis and Kyle Farmer all on IL, and Correa not fully healthy...Twins also carried three catchers at that time...Hit .317 (13-for-41) with one double, three home runs, seven RBI, seven runs scored, a .349 on-base percentage, a .561 slugging percentage and a .910 OPS in 14 July games...Played in 900th career game on Aug. 6 at Chicago-NL...Hit safely in 10 straight starts from Aug. 2-21...Hit safely in eight straight games overall during that streak from Aug. 2-17, his longest of 2024...Celebrated 10 years of Major League service on Aug. 15 with the team in Texas...His wife got a Puerto Rican band to visit the clubhouse and had his locker decorated with balloons and cookies...Hit .302 (16-for-53) with three doubles, two home runs, nine RBI and a .793 OPS in 16 August games...Placed on paternity list on Sept. 9 to attend the birth of his son; reinstated on Sept. 11...Recorded 150th career double on Sept. 11 vs. Los Angeles-AL...Played 2.0 innings at first base on Sept. 14 vs. Cincinnati in a Twins 11-1 defeat...Posted an average exit velocity of 88.5 mph, his highest since 2019 (89.4 mph)...Hit .313 (10-for-32) against off-speed pitches.
2023
Played for Team Puerto Rico during World Baseball Classic, hitting .333 (5-for-15) with two doubles, one home run, three RBI and one walk in four games...Was Twins Opening Day catcher on March 30 at Kansas City after signing three-year contract with Minnesota in December...Recorded first hit as Twin with a fifth-inning single and finished the day 2-for-4...Hit .379 (11-for-29) with a .471 on-base percentage and a .953 OPS in first nine games...Reached base safely a season-high four times on May 15 at Los Angeles-NL, going 3-for-5 with a walk...Hit first home run as Twin against former team on June 19 vs. Boston, snapping streak of 161 plate appearances to go homerless to start season...Hit safely in season-long five-straight games from Aug. 13-22...Played in 800th career game on July 26 vs. Seattle...Recorded 300th career RBI on July 29 at Kansas City...Played one inning at second base on Sept. 4 at Cleveland in a Twins 20-6 victory...Seventh career game at second base and first since July 22, 2022 vs. Toronto...Recorded 700th career hit on Sept. 12 vs. Tampa Bay, a single off Andrew Kittredge...Hit .250 (18-for-72) with five home runs and a .776 OPS vs. left-handed pitching, compared to .217 (55-for-254) with one home run and a .547 OPS vs. right-handed pitching...Posted a 1.45 second "pop time" from behind the plate, sixth best among MLB catchers...Posted a 4.09 catcher ERA, seventh best in the American League among qualified catchers and second on team (Jeffers - 3.64)...Hit .270 (10-for-37) with runners in scoring position and two outs...Hit .260 (19-for-73) with runners in scoring position...Did not appear in any of six Twins postseason games, two ALWCS vs. Toronto and four ALDS vs. Houston...Served as backup catcher to Ryan Jeffers, who started all six games.
2022
Made Opening Day roster for Boston for sixth time in career and was Opening Day catcher April 8 at New York-AL...fifth-straight Opening Day start at catcher for Red Sox...Placed on COVID Injured List from April 19-20...Hit .356 (26-for-73) with eight doubles, one home run, 16 RBI and a .919 OPS in 22 May games...his average ranked eighth in the AL and his doubles were tied for sixth...Drove in 19 runs in a 23-game span from May 8-June 7...span included a .337 (28-for-83) batting average, an .845 OPS and three three-hit games...Hit 50th career home run June 21 vs. Detroit, a solo shot off Andrew Chafin...Recorded third career multi-homer game July 22 vs. Toronto, both solo shots...Acquired by Houston via trade Aug. 1, in exchange for minor league outfielder Wilyer Abreu and infielder Enmanuel Valdez...Went 4-for-6 with two RBI and three runs scored August 18 at Chicago-AL, tying single-game career high in hits...Hit first home run as an Astro in Houston's final game of season Oct. 5 vs. Philadelphia...Finished with nine home runs, second-most for single season in career (23 in 2019)…also second most RBI with 52 (72 in 2019)…Combined to hit .274 (109-for-398) with 23 doubles, nine home runs, 52 RBI, 22 walks and a .315 on-base percentage in 119 games between the Red Sox and Astros...hit .304 (31-for-102) with an .823 OPS vs. left-handed pitching, compared to .264 (78-for-296) vs. righties...While playing catcher, hit .266 (97-for-364) with 23 doubles, seven home runs and 47 RBI with a .308 on-base percentage...ranked second among AL catchers in batting average and hits, and third in on-base percentage and doubles...Finished tied for first in the AL in catcher caught stealing (16) and tied for fourth among all major league catchers with 11 defensive runs saved (per FanGraphs)…Played in six Postseason games for the Astros, including two ALDS games vs. Seattle, one ALCS game vs. New York-AL and three World Series games vs. Philadelphia...hit .235 (4-for-17) with one walk and three RBI...went 2-for-7 with one RBI in three World Series games...Drove in two runs with a single in Game 3 of the ALCS at New York-AL...Was behind the plate for the Astros' combined no-hitter in Game 4 of the World Series, becoming the second catcher in MLB history to catch a no-hitter in the World Series, joining Yogi Berra, who caught Don Larsen's perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series...Selected to play in the 2023 World Baseball Classic with Team Puerto Rico, marking first career selection.
2021
Matched a career high with 138 games played. Led the majors in innings caught (1,051.1), the most by a Red Sox catcher since Jason Varitek in 2008 (1,064.1)...Appeared in 132 games at catcher, making 119 starts...Also started three games at DH and appeared in two games at 3B, two at 2B and one at 1B...Threw out 18 attempted base stealers, tied for the fourth.most in the majors (18-for-73, 24.7%)...Recorded three pickoffs, most in the AL and tied for third.most in the majors...Led the Sox with eight stolen bases (8-for-12), most among AL catchers and tied for second-most by any catcher (Realmuto-13, Alfaro-8)...Four of his six HR tied the score or gave the Sox a lead...Made his fourth consecutive Opening Day start at catcher for the Red Sox (2018-21)...Hit .283 with a .721 OPS in 29 games from Opening Day through 5/8 (30-for-106, 8 XBH, 14 RBI)...Stole a base and caught a baserunner stealing on 4/6 vs. TB...Was the second time Vázquez has done both of those things in the same game (also 6/27/17 vs. MIN)...In 15 games from 8/28-9/17, hit .360 with an .896 OPS (18-for-50, 7 R, 4 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB)...Recorded one RBI in each of the Sox’ final two games, helping them clinch a Postseason berth with a sweep at WSH...Gave the Sox a 2-1 lead with an RBI triple in the ninth inning on 10/2 at WSH, a 5-3 win...In the season finale on 10/3, hit an RBI single in the sixth inning, cutting the Sox’ deficit to 5-2.
POSTSEASON: Played in 11 games, making seven starts...Batted .281 (9-for-32) with one HR and six RBI...Hit a walk-off two-run HR in the 13th inning of Game 3 of the ALDS vs. TB.
2020
Played in 47 of the Sox’ 60 games...Made 41 starts at catcher and 4 at DH...also played 0.2 innings at 2B on 8/13 vs. TB...Threw out seven of 28 attempted base stealers (25%)... ranked T-2nd in the AL and T-4th in MLB in runners caught stealing (7)...Set career-highs in OBP (.344) and OPS (.801)...his .283 AVG and .457 SLG were the second-best marks of his career (.290 AVG in 2017, .477 SLG in 2019)...Hit .309 with a .861 OPS and 16 RBI in 24 road games (29-for-94, 9 XBH)...Of his 7 HR, three gave the Sox a lead and one tied the score...Homered and threw out a runner attempting to steal in two games: 7/26 vs. BAL, 7/30 at NYM...were his fifth and sixth such career games.
2019
Set career highs in games (138), runs scored (66), hits (133), doubles (26), HR (23), RBI (72), BB (33), XBH (50), SLG (.477), and OPS (.798)...Appeared at catcher in 119 games (103 starts), becoming the 1st Red Sox with 100+ games at catcher since Jarrod Saltalamacchia in 2013 (119)...Led the AL in games caught (119) and led the majors in catcher pickoffs (4)...Also led AL catchers in hits, XBH, multi-hit games, and doubles (tied)...Became the 2nd Sox catcher since 1974 with 4+ catcher pickoffs in a season (also Rich Gedman, 5 in 1985)...Became the 1st Red Sox catcher to hit 20+ HR in a season since Jarrod Saltalamacchia in 2012 (25)...Made 7 starts at 1B and 1 at 2B, the first of his career at both positions...Also appeared in 4 games at 3B...Was 1 of 4 players to appear at catcher, 1B, 2B, and 3B in 2019 (also Austin Nola, Kyle Farmer, and Willians Astudillo)...Both his 39 multi-hit games and 72 RBI marked the most by a Red Sox catcher in a season since 2010, when Victor Martinez had 43 multi-hit games and 79 RBI...His career-high 50 XBH marked the most by a Red Sox catcher in a season since 2013 (Saltalamacchia-54)...Hit .297 (35-for-118) with RISP, including .344 from 6/30 through the end of the season (21-for-61, 8 2B, 2 HR)...Hit the first 2 pinch-hit HR of his career: 5/24 at HOU and 7/23 at TB...The only other Sox catchers since 1974 with 2+ pinch-hit HR in a season are Mike Stanley (2 in 1997) and Rich Gedman (2 in 1984)...Was the Red Sox' starting catcher on 3/28 at SEA, becoming the 1st Red Sox to start consecutive Opening Days at catcher since Jarrod Saltalamacchia (2011-13)...Picked off Tommy Pham at 1B for the final out on 4/20 at TB...According to Elias, it was the 1st Red Sox victory in the Expansion Era (1961-present) that ended with a catcher's pickoff...Had 4 HR and 13 RBI through April...His 13 RBI tied the most by a Sox catcher before May (5x, previous: Pierzynski in 2014)...Was the 1st Sox catcher with 4+ HR before May since Jarrod Saltalamacchia in 2012 (4)...Hit .336 (44-for-131) in 38 games from 5/4-6/23, the AL's highest AVG during that time (min. 100 AB)...Had a career-best 11-game hitting streak from 6/11- 25, in which he hit .340 (16-for-47) with 3 HR and 8 RBI...On 6/24 vs. TOR, hit a walk-off 2-run HR in the 10th inning, his 2nd career walk-off HR (also 8/1/17 vs. CLE)...Homered in a career-best 3 consecutive games from 6/30-7/3...Prior to Vázquez, the last Red Sox catcher to homer in 3 consecutive games was Jason Varitek in 2008...On 7/23 at TB, broke a 2-2 tie with a pinch-hit solo HR in the 7th inning of a 5-4 Red Sox win...Over 13 games from 9/14 through the end of 2019, hit .368 (14-for-38) with 4 HR and 13 RBI...Recorded his 1st career multi-HR game on 9/15 at PHI, including his 1st career grand slam...Had a career-high 5 RBI that day, the most by a Sox catcher in a game since Blake Swihart (5 RBI on 9/29/15 at NYY).
2018
Made 66 starts at catcher in his 4th ML season...BOS went 46-20 (.697) in those games. Missed nearly 2 months of the season on the disabled list from 7/8-8/31 (right fifth finger fracture). Threw out 10 of 32 attempted base stealers (31.3%). Posted a 3.84 catcher's ERA, the 6th-lowest among AL backstops with at least 75 games played. The Sox went 11-2 (.846) in his 13 games with an RBI and 29-9 (.763) in his 38 games with a hit, including 20-1 (.952) from 5/20 on...10 of his 16 RBI came with 2 outs. Hit .382 (13-for-34, 2 HR) in PA ending on the 1st pitch. The Sox went 33-9 (.786) in his 42 starts at catcher from 3/30-6/14, including 13-0 from 5/20-6/14...In those 13 games, the Sox allowed only 28 runs. Hit all 3 of his HR and 4 of his 10 2B in June...In 17 June games, hit .298 (17-for-57) with an .860 OPS. Hit a game-tying HR in the 7th inning on 6/2 at HOU, knotting the game at 3-3 as the Sox earned a 5-4 comefrom-behind win. On 6/6 vs. DET, went 3-for-4 with a single, double, and HR, his 4th career game falling a triple shy of the cycle. Placed on the 10-day DL with a right fifth finger fracture on 7/8...On 7/10, underwent a pinning procedure (ORIF) of his fractured finger...The surgery was performed by Dr. Matt Leibman at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Appeared in 4 rehab games between Double-A Portland (1 G) and Triple-A Pawtucket (3 G) from 8/27-30. Was reinstated from the DL on 9/1 and appeared in 20 of the Red Sox' final 26 games (12 starts). Scored his 100th career run on 9/5 at ATL, the 1st of 6 runs scored by the Red Sox in the 8th inning to tie the game at 7-7...BOS went on to win, 9-8. Appeared at 3B in both games of a doubleheader on 9/26 vs. BAL...Were his 3rd and 4th career appearances at 3B and his only 2 of 2018. POSTSEASON: Played 12 of the Red Sox' 14 postseason games...BOS went 9-1 in his 10 starts. Threw out 1 of 2 attempted base stealers. Hit a solo HR in Game 4 of the ALDS at NYY, becoming the 6th Red Sox catcher to homer in the postseason. Posted a 5-game hit streak from ALCS-G4 through WS-G4...Tied the longest postseason hitting streak ever by a Red Sox catcher (also Carlton Fisk in 1975, Rich Gedman in 1986-88, and Jason Varitek in 2003-04). Made his 1st career appearance at 1B in Game 3 of the World Series at LAD, switching to the position in the 12th inning and remaining there for the rest of the game...According to Elias, became the 5th non-pitcher ever to appear in a World Series game at a position he had never previously played, joining BOS's Patsy Dougherty (RF in 1903), WSH's Buddy Myer (3B in 1925), CHC's Stan Hack (SS in 1935), and NYY's Alfonso Soriano (RF in 2003). Caught the final pitch of the World Series, as Chris Sale struck out Manny Machado swinging.
2017
Made his 1st career Opening Day roster...Played in a career-high 99 games (85 starts at catcher, 2 starts at DH)...Earned the Unsung Hero Award from the Boston Baseball Writers. Recorded more runs (43), hits (94), triples (2), HR (5), and stolen bases (7) than he did in his first 3 ML seasons combined...Hit 18 doubles and recorded 32 RBI, doubling his career totals in each category. Led AL catchers with a .290 AVG (94-for-324), the 2nd-highest mark among ML backstops (min. 250 AB)...Since 1940, the only other Sox catchers to hit .290+ (min. 300 AB) are Jason Varitek (.296, 2004), Rich Gedman (.295, 1985), and Carlton Fisk (.293, 1972; .315, 1977). Threw out 19 of 48 attempted base stealers (39.6%), the 4th-highest rate among ML catchers (min. 20 G). Recorded 2 pickoffs...Caught a runner stealing and recorded a pickoff on both 8/4 vs. CWS and 9/25 vs. TOR. Finished 2nd in the AL with a .348 home AVG (54-for-155), trailing only Adrian Beltre (.362, min. 100 AB)...Marked the highest home AVG by a Sox catcher since Hal Wagner hit .350 in 1944. Hit .299 (23-for-77) with RISP, including .533 (8-for-15) with a 1.229 OPS from 8/28 on. Stole his first 7 career bases (7-for-9, 77.8%)...No other Sox catcher had stolen 7+ bases with as high a success rate since Carlton Fisk in 1973 & 1978 (7-for-9). Finished 2nd in the AL (3rd in the majors) with a .275 AVG with 2 strikes (47-for-171)...Marks the highest 2-strike AVG by a Red Sox catcher since 1988. Went 4-for-4 on 4/11 vs. BAL and 8/28 at TOR...Only 2 other ML catchers went 4-for-4 or better in a game all season (BAL's Caleb Joseph and Welington Castillo). Prior to Vázquez, the last Red Sox catcher with multiple 4-for-4 or better performances in a single season was Rich Gedman (3 in 1985). Stole a base in each of his 4-for-4 games...Prior to Vázquez, the last Red Sox catcher with 4 hits and a SB in a single game was Johnny Peacock on 9/21/38...No other ML catcher had such a game in 2017. Prior to Vázquez, the last ML catchers to record 4+ hits and steal a base multiple times in a season were Joe Mauer (2 in 2005) and B.J. Surhoff (3 in 1988). Had 5 games with 3+ hits and a SB, the most ever by a Red Sox catcher in a single season. Made his season debut on 4/8 at DET (1-for-1, 2 HBP)...Was the first Red Sox to be hit by a pitch multiple times in his season debut since Roxy Walters in 1920...Reached base in each of his first 7 PA of the season (5-for-5, 2 HBP)...According to Elias, became the first Red Sox hitter to reach base safely in his first 7 PA of any season since Ted Cox in 1977 (7 PA). Went 4-for-4 from the No. 9 spot in the order on 4/11 vs. BAL, his 2nd time doing so (also 9/25/14 vs. TB). Finished April with a .412 AVG (14-for-34), the highest AVG through April by an AL catcher since Ivan Rodriguez in 1998 (.446, min. 30 AB). Went 1-for-2 with 2 BB, a SB, and a game-winning HR on 6/27 vs. MIN, his first HR since 5/1/16 vs. NYY...Was his 3rd career HR, each of which was a tie-breaking 2-run shot at Fenway Park...Scored a run in a career-high 5 straight games from 6/27-7/4 (6 runs). Posted a career-long 14-game on-base streak from 7/25-8/21, batting .431 (22-for-51) with 12 runs. Reached base in a career-long 18 straight home games from 7/19-9/14...Hit .397 (25-for-63) with a .449 OBP and a 1.100 OPS over the streak...From 7/29 through the rest of the season, ranked 4th in MLB with a .346 AVG (46-for-133, min. 50 AB). Hit .400 (38-for-95) in 29 games from 7/29-9/16. From 7/29-8/3, became the 1st Red Sox player to record multiple hits in 5 straight games-all as a catcher-since Carlton Fisk in 1977 (6)...Had 5 XBH in those games. Recorded his 1st career walk-off RBI on 8/1 vs. CLE, turning a 10-9 deficit into a 12-10 win with a 3-run HR. Was the 2nd walk-off HR by a Sox catcher in 2017 (also Sandy Leon, 4/5 vs. PIT)...According to Elias, the only other season in which 2 Sox catchers have hit walk-off HR is 1995 (Mike Macfarlane and Bill Haselman). On 8/28 at TOR, went 4-for-4 with a HR, a double, and a SB...Was his 3rd career 4-for-4 performance, each of which has included multiple XBH. On 9/14 vs. OAK, tied the game with a solo HR in the 5th inning...Marked his 4th straight game with an RBI...POSTSEASON: Made his 2nd career postseason roster and 1st postseason appearances, starting Games 2 and 4 of the ALDS vs. HOU. Reached base in 4 of 8 PA (2-for-6, 2 BB), including a 2-for-3 effort with a run scored and walk in Game 2. Became the first major league catcher to reach base 3 times in his postseason debut since BOS's Jarrod Saltalamacchia in Game 1 of the 2013 ALDS vs. TB.
2016
Returned after missing the entire 2015 season recovering from Tommy John surgery... Appeared in 57 ML games and made 49 starts over a pair of stints with the Red Sox...Also appeared in 42 games with Triple-A Pawtucket. Threw out 8 of 23 (34.8%) attempted base stealers at the ML level. Began the season on the DL (retroactive to 3/25) recovering from Tommy John surgery...Reached base safely in each of his 5 rehab games with Pawtucket from 4/8-14, making 4 starts at catcher and going 6-for-13 (.462) with a double, 7 BB, 2 RBI, and a .650 OBP. Was activated from the 15-day DL on 4/15, starting that day vs. TOR...Was his 1st ML game since 9/27/14 vs. NYY...Went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 runs scored, also picking off a runner at 1B. Broke a 6-6 tie with a 2-run HR off Dellin Betances in the 7th inning on 5/1 vs. NYY...Was his 1st HR since 9/25/14. Optioned to Pawtucket on 7/5 and remained with the PawSox until being recalled to the big league club on 9/5... Appeared in 6 more ML games (2 starts), going 2-for-8 with a double. Caught all 10 innings of the Sox' 3-2 win at TB on 9/25, when BOS set a franchise record with 23 SO...The Sox set a ML record by striking out 11 consecutive batters faced, from the 2nd out of the 4th inning through the final out of the 7th. Started 41 games at catcher for the PawSox, throwing out 11 of 24 (46%) attempted base stealers...Hit .291 (32-for-110) with a .358 OBP vs. RHP...Batted .314 (22-for-70) with a .377 OBP in 19 August games in the minors. Following the season, played for Santurce in the Puerto Rican Winter League...Hit .237 (23-for-97) with 2 HR in 28 regular season games...Started each of the club's 13 postseason games (DH-7, C-6), batting .405 (17-for-42, 11 RBI, 5 R, 4 2B, 2 3B, 6 BB, HBP)...Threw out 2 of 3 attempted base stealers and picked off a runner at 1B in the postseason. POSTSEASON: Named to the Red Sox' ALDS roster vs. CLE but did not appear in a game.
2015
Missed the season recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow...Procedure was performed on 4/2 by Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, FL. Was originally placed on the 60-day DL on 3/30 with a right elbow sprain...Sustained injury in spring training. Returned to game action in the Fall Instructional League in September/October...Served only as DH (did not catch). Following the season, hit .254 (32-for-126, 6 2B, 3B, 12 RBI) in 34 games between Mayaguez and Santurce of the Puerto Rican Winter League, including the postseason...Served only as a DH (did not catch).
2014
Played 55 games for the Red Sox, his 1st career ML action, including 54 games at catcher (50 starts)...Took over as the club's regular catcher after July recall...Reached base safely in 40 of his 50 starts for BOS, hitting .240 (42-for-175) with 9 2B, HR, 20 RBI, and 19 BB...Threw out 51.7% of attempted base stealers (15 of 29), best in the majors among catchers with at least 50 games behind the plate...Was the best such mark in Red Sox history (since CS began being tracked in the AL in 1920)...Did not benefit from a pitcher caught stealing, making his 51.7% catcher caught stealing rate the best among major leaguers with at least 50 games behind the plate since STL's Yadier Molina in 2005 (54.8%; 17 of 31)...Was the best such mark by a rookie catcher since CCS began being tracked in 1974...Posted a team-best 4.04 catcher's ERA...His 54 games, 50 starts, and 458.1 innings at catcher all ranked 2nd on the team to A.J. Pierzynski (64 games, 60 starts, 540.0 inn.)...Had 4 pickoffs, the most by a Red Sox catcher in a season since Rich Gedman had 4 in 1985...Hit .286 (20-for-70) at Fenway Park compared to .210 (22-for-105) on the road...Went 7-for-24 (.292) with 5 walks with 2 out and runners in scoring position...Began the year with Triple-A Pawtucket, hitting .273 (68-for-244) with 17 2B, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 35 R, and 21 BB in 66 games...Threw out 39.6% of attempted base stealers (19 of 48)...Named a Mid-Season International League All-Star and was also selected to the 2014 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game...Did not participate in either contest...Recalled 7/9 and made his ML debut that night, starting behind the plate in a 5-4 win vs. CWS...Started 50 of Boston's 72 remaining games following his recall...The Red Sox won his first 5 career starts from 7/9-21, over which Red Sox pitchers allowed only 9 runs...Was the 1st Red Sox ever to start as a catcher and win each of his first 5 major league games, and the 1st AL player to do it since MIL's Bill Schroeder in 1983 (Source: Elias)...Went 3-for-4 with 2 R, 2 2B, and 3 RBI in his 2nd ML game on 7/11 at HOU...Was the fastest Red Sox to a 3+ hit game since Nomar Garciaparra's on 9/1/96 at OAK (2nd game, 3 H)...Appeared in 13 of the club's last 14 games beginning on 9/12 (11 starts)...Hit safely in 8 of his last 9 starts (.400, 12-for-30, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 4 BB)...Went 4-for-4 with a double and his 1st ML home run on 9/25 vs. TB...The homer was a 2-run, go-ahead shot off Jeremy Hellickson in the 2nd inning...Was the 1st Red Sox rookie catcher with 4 or more hits in a game since Scott Hatteberg had 4 hits on 8/8/97 vs. KC...Following the season, played 33 games for San Juan of the Puerto Rican Winter League...Ranked 9th among qualifiers with a .288 AVG (32-for-111) and had 6 2B, HR, 12 RBI, 10 BB, and a .365 OBP...Tied for the league lead among catchers with 10 CS (21 attempts, 47.6%)...Was named by Baseball America as the best defensive catcher in the International League in 2014.
2013
Led Double-A Portland with a .289 AVG (99-for-342) and was named team MVP. Including 1 game with Triple-A Pawtucket, ranked 5th among full-season Red Sox minor league qualifiers with a career-best .287 AVG (99-for-345)…Also posted a career-high .375 OBP. Ranked 9th in AVG among Eastern League qualifiers…Had the 4th-highest ratio of plate appearances per strikeout (9.1). Topped Eastern League backstops throwing out 46.5 percent (47 of 101) attempted base stealers…Also led EL catchers in total chances (871), putouts (781), and assists (tied, 80). Named Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player of the Month for April (11 CS in 16 G). Reached in all 5 PA on 5/22 vs. New Hampshire (4-for-4, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, BB). Started behind the plate for the Eastern Division in the Eastern League All-Star Game on 7/10 in New Britain. Posted a season-long 12-game hitting streak from 7/31-8/16 (.429 AVG, 21-for-49, 3 2B, 7 RBI)…Matched the longest hit streak by a Sea Dog all year. Hit .347 (50-for-144) after the All-Star break…Promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket on 9/1, where he made his Triple-A debut the next day in the PawSox' regular season finale. Hit .273 (3-for-11) with 2 RBI and 2 walks in 3 playoff games for Pawtucket. After the season, played for Santurce of the Puerto Rico Winter League and led the league with 32 games behind the plate…Threw out a league-best 63.0% (17 of 27) of attempted base stealers. Following the season, ranked by Baseball America as the best defensive catcher in the Red Sox farm system for a 3rd straight year…Also named the best defensive catcher in the Eastern League.
2012
Played the majority of the year with High-A Salem, where he was a Carolina League Post-Season All-Star...Also made his Double-A debut with 20 games for Portland...Combined to throw out 49 of 122 base stealers (40.2%), including a Carolina League-best 41.9 percentage (44 of 105)...Also topped the circuit with 110 assists at the position...Led the Red Sox system with 96 games caught...Named Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player of the Month for June after throwing out 10 of 23 attempted base stealers (43.5%)...Combined to set a single-season career-high with 48 walks, including eight walks compared to nine strikeouts in Double-A...Recalled for Double-A debut on 8/3...At time of transfer, ranked 13th in the Carolina League with a .360 OBP...Over his last 28 games with Salem from 6/23-8/2, led the Carolina League in AVG (.353) and OBP (.455), and ranked among CL leaders in SLG (5th, .598) and OPS (3rd, 1.053)...Notched four straight multi-hit games from 6/23-28 and again from 7/4-9...Batted .291 (51-for-175) over his final 48 games of the season beginning 6/23...Following the season, hit .257 (9-for-35) with eight walks in 10 games for Surprise in the Arizona Fall League.....Then played nine contests for Manati of the Puerto Rico Winter League, going 7-for-24 (.292) with two doubles, a triple and a homer.
2011
Spent the year with Single-A Greenville and was named Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player of the Year. Threw out 37 of 111 (33.3%) of opposing base stealers and posted a .991 fielding percentage (9 E/904 TC)... Led South Atlantic League catchers in chances (904), putouts (788), and assists (108). Reached single-season career-highs in homers (18) and RBI (84)...His 84 RBI led the Drive and ranked 4th among Red Sox minor leaguers. Also paced the Drive with 18 homers and ranked among club leaders in at-bats (3rd, 392), hits (2nd, 111), doubles (T-2nd, 27), and walks (T-2nd, 43). Named SAL Player of the Week from 6/20-26 (.467, 7-for-15, 4 HR) and from 8/29-9/4 (.381, 8-for-21, 3 HR). Selected as the Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player for July. Following the season, was rated byBaseball America as best defensive catcher in the SAL and in Red Sox system. After the season, played in 3 games with Indios de Mayaguez of the Puerto Rico Winter League.
2010
Played his 1st full season with Single-A Greenville and led the club with 60 games behind the plate...Threw out 31 of 76 (40.8%) attempted base stealers. Made his 1st pro appearances at 1st base (3 games) and 2nd base (1). Hit 1st career grand slam on 4/17 at Lexington (KC). Hit .370 (20-for-54) during a 14-game hit streak from 5/31-7/3. Went 5-for-21 (.238) with 3 doubles and 2 RBI in 6 playoff games for the Drive.
2009
Split the year with 31 games between the Rookie-level Gulf Coast Red Sox and ShortA Lowell...Combined for 21 games at catcher, nine at 3rd base and one at DH...Threw out six of 26 (23.1%) attempted base stealers...Began the year in the GCL before transferring to Lowell on 7/8...His 1st hit for the Spinners was a game-tying pinch-hit homer in the 9th inning on 7/9 vs. Tri-City (HOU).
2008
Led the Gulf Coast League Red Sox with 21 games caught in his pro debut...Threw out five of 32 (15.6%) attempted base stealers.
