Boston Red Sox prospect Connor Wong bashes homer; ‘I‘ve been impressed with the way he swings,’ Alex Cora says

Red Sox prospect Connor Wong continued his strong spring training Tuesday, bashing a long home run to right-center field. He helped Boston win 5-3 over the Braves at JetBlue Park.

“I think yesterday he hit a ball like 112 (mph) in the simulated game,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “So I heard about that one. Good quality at-bats. He controls the strike zone. Compact swing. Strong kid. I’ve been impressed with the way he swings the bat, the control of the at-bats.”

Boston acquired Wong with Alex Verdugo and Jeter Downs from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Mookie Betts and David Price last February.

So far this spring, he has gone 2-for-9 with a homer, double and five walks .500 OBP, .667 slugging).

He showed power in the minors back in 2019. He belted 24 home runs, 24 doubles and seven triples in 111 games combined between High A (70 games) and Double A (41 games).

Cora also continued to rave about Wong’s defensive skills behind the plate. Cora said earlier in camp that Wong has eye-opening communication with his pitchers and coach Jason Varitek.

“There’s a calmness about him that managers like,” Cora said. “And we’re very happy. Last year, he was part of the big trade and I bet everything was going so fast for him. And now for him to slow everything down, and being able to work, it’s a testament of who he is as a person, as a player. And obviously he’s somebody that we’re counting on in the future.”

Wong is listed at 6-foot-1, 179 pounds. He spent the 2020 season at the alternate training site, then Boston added him to the 40-man roster in November.

The Red Sox optioned Wong as well as relievers Eduard Bazardo and John Schreiber to the alternate training site after the game.

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