Connor Wong, Eduard Bazardo get call from WooSox to Boston as MLB rosters expand

WORCESTER — It’s a fascinating process for big league clubs when rosters expand Sept. 1, especially for a team like the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox will likely miss the postseason, so with that in mind, it makes sense for the club to initially promote catcher Connor Wong and relief pitcher Eduard Bazardo as it did Thursday.

Remember, since both the Triple-A and MLB regular-season schedules conclude within days of each other, transactions can continue until their finality. So players called up Thursday could be back in the minors, while others could get promoted in the final month of the season.

It appears the Red Sox have the mindset to give prospects the much-needed experience in the final month of the season. In Wong's case, if he's going to be given an opportunity to become the Red Sox' everyday catcher in 2023, then he should receive the majority of the reps behind the plate for the remainder of 2022.

Wong, along with fellow catcher Ronaldo Hernandez have been a solid tandem behind the plate, and offensively for the WooSox. Both have been in the lineup as either a catcher or designated hitter for the majority of the season. However, a sore hamstring has hampered Hernandez of late.

After he was hit by a pitch and missed the first seven games in August, Wong has been dialed in at the plate since his return. He entered Wednesday’s game with a .359 average, including 5 doubles, 8 home runs, 19 RBI and 13 runs after his return. He added a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning Wednesday and now has nine homers in his last 16 games, most of them to the opposite field.

“He’s on a heater right now and hotter than hell,” WooSox manager Chad Tracy said. “He’s not a big guy but these (opposite-field) balls are going out by a ways, so to see him staying through the ball, using the big part of the field, and we’ve seen huge power to the pull side. It looks really good right now.”

Even when he doesn’t square it up, he’s still getting the barrel on the ball and has been able to put it in play.

“You’re going good when your miss-hits and your outs are all squared up,” explained Tracy.

Defensively, he’s been solid too.

“He looks great,” Tracy said. “He’s looked good with his receiving all year, and he can really throw. What he’s doing with the bat stands out right now, but when you couple that with the athleticism behind the plate he’s knocking on the door for sure.”

After Wednesday's WooSox game, Wong said it would be a great opportunity and a lot of fun to join the Red Sox for the remainder of the season. It now appears he'll get that chance.

Even though Triston Casas wasn't called up Thursday, it's likely he'll get his opportunity before the end of the season with Boston. The same can be said for reliever Frank German. They both deserve the opportunity.

While Wong has big-league time with the Red Sox, many are anxious to see how Casas’ game translates at the big-league level. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound slugger has developed well on both sides of the ball. Since his first call to Boston didn't come Thursday, it’ll be only a matter of time before he gets his shot.

“It would be a lifelong dream come true,” he said. “Playing for an organization like the Red Sox, which is never a rebuilding organization, it’s tough to crack that lineup. That roster, from top to bottom, is immaculate. It’s elite. It’s filled with stars. It’s filled with All-Stars, World Series winners, so getting an opportunity to play in Boston is something I’ve been working for since I could stand up and swing a bat.”

He’s always been focused on the task at hand, but it’s only natural to get excited about the possibility Thursday.

“With it on the horizon, with it in the forecast potentially it’s hard not to think about it, because it’s a life-long achievement accomplished,” Casas said. “It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice, so it would mean everything. I’m trying to keep my head down and keep on working, but I’m trying to do my part to get up there, because ultimately that’s the goal to help that team win.”

Casas joked that he wouldn’t tell his dad, Jose, and would wait until he watched his son on television play at game at Fenway Park.

“Nah, his phone is going to blow up,” Casas said with a laugh.

MORE: Red Sox prospect Triston Casas relishes chance to shine in front of family during trip to Florida

Casas entered Wednesday’s game with a .329 average in 24 games in August. He’s raised his average to .271 and has 10 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers and 10 RBIs this month. He’s also been hitting to all fields. Baseball America recently ranked Casas as the best defensive first baseman in the International League.

WooSox have other call-up candidates

Infielder Jeter Downs is on the injured list with an ankle injury, and pitching prospect Connor Seabold started for the WooSox Wednesday night. Outfielder Jarren Duran, who was sent down Tuesday, is not eligible to return yet. Plus, it would be best for him to remain at Triple A to build his confidence and improve his game before the end of the season. Pitcher Josh Winckowski was optioned on Aug. 24, so he needs to also wait the 10 days before a possible recall.

—Contact Joe McDonald at JMcDonald2@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeyMacHockey.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Connor Wong, Eduard Bazardo get call from WooSox to Boston as MLB rosters expand