{"id":26607,"date":"2025-01-17T08:32:15","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T08:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=26607"},"modified":"2025-01-17T08:32:15","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T08:32:15","slug":"breaking-alex-cora-raves-over-physical-improvements-of-red-sox-catcher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=26607","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Alex Cora Raves Over Physical Improvements Of Red Sox Catcher"},"content":{"rendered":"<article id=\"post-2003205\"><!--?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ??--><!--?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ??--><!--?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ??-->BOSTON \u2014 Alex Cora raved about the physical improvements Garrett Whitlock made a year ago when speaking at Winter Weekend. This year, the Red Sox manager had another player to spotlight for a strong offseason condition.<\/p>\n<p>Cora took time during \u201cFenway Fest\u201d Saturday to commend Boston catcher Connor Wong for his strength training. Boston\u2019s starting catcher has plenty to reaffirm about himself at the position, particularly after top catching prospect Kyle Teel departed for Chicago when the White Sox traded Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe looks strong,\u201d Cora told reporters. \u201cShoulders, big legs. Explosive. He\u2019s in a good spot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s in tremendous shape,\u201d Red Sox hitting coach Pete Fatse told NESN.com. \u201cHaving the workload he undertook last year, we saw toward the end of the year physically after catching 130-140 games in the big leagues, it takes a toll on you physically. He prides himself on what he does with the pitching staff. Making sure he\u2019s in a position to withstand it. He\u2019s clearly taken advantage of it this offseason.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Wong\u2019s bat took a step forward in 2024. He hit .280 with 13 home runs and a .758 OPS in 126 games. The next step for that progression with the Red Sox is making that production sustainable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was extremely intentional, the adjustments that were made going into last offseason and through last year,\u201d Fatse added. \u201cI think we all have a better understanding of where he\u2019s at now. The progress moving forward, we expect him to continue to take steps. Him reducing his strikeout rate and putting the ball in play more are obviously things we targeted. I think there\u2019s still a way for him to tap into the impact he has.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<p>Wong shared offseason goals of maintaining athleticism and defensive improvements in his blocking and receiving abilities. That becomes even more paramount given the quality additions the Red Sox made on the pitching side this winter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLot of eating,\u201d Wong told reporters at Fenway Park. \u201cJust kind of forcing food and trying to put on as much weight as I can. \u2026 I think just wanting to be a little more physical. A little more durable. Maybe some wear and tear, but mostly just trying to be a little more physical.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Connor Wong caught the attention of several Red Sox coaches during his offseason condition work as the starting catcher.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":26610,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26607","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>BREAKING: Alex Cora Raves Over Physical Improvements Of Red Sox Catcher - News 365<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=26607\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BREAKING: Alex Cora Raves Over Physical Improvements Of Red Sox Catcher - 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