The Boston Red Sox acquired catcher Carlos Narváez from the New York Yankees on Dec. 11, and now the rookie catcher will be behind the plate for the Red Sox in Game 1 of their wild card series against the Yankees.
Narváez may be a rookie, but he has postseason experience. The Red Sox rookie was on the Yankees' taxi squad during the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now, the rookie will face his former team as the starter behind the plate.
"It’s crazy how baseball works," Narváez said.
Carlos Narváez Sends Message Ahead of Yankees' Playoff Series
Narváez made the Yankees' taxi squad for the World Series last season, but never played in a postseason game with New York. The young catcher had just six games of major-league experience at the time.
"Everything has been for a reason. What I saw last year, the experience I had even if I wasn’t playing, I think prepared me for this year and to be in this position right now," Narváez said (h/t masslive.com). "Of course, over there, every game I wanted to play. But I understand the process. So super happy and thankful to just see everything last year in the postseason and being that close."
"It’s going to be awesome every time of the year, and now even more. Our goal is to get out of there in 2 games and bring postseason baseball back here to Fenway."
— NESN (@NESN) September 28, 2025
Carlos Narváez on Yankees matchup 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XNbBjPscxx
Fast forward a year, and Narváez now has 118 games and 446 plate appearances under his belt. The rookie catcher has hit .241 with a .726 OPS this year for the Red Sox.
Narváez may not have played in the 2024 World Series, but he was in the dugout and experienced the playoff atmosphere at Yankee Stadium, so he knows what to expect for the Red Sox's three game wild card series this year.
"I think every ballpark in the postseason is amazing; this one was really loud," Narváez said (h/t masslive.com). "Especially against the Dodgers. I remember I was in the dugout. .... Every game is going to be rocking and we understand that and we love it. We embrace that."
If there's one team the Yankees hate more than the Dodgers, it's the Red Sox. Although last year's Dodgers series was in the World Series, you better believe Yankee Stadium will be loud for the Red Sox's wild card series.
🎙️ ”It hasn’t been easy, it was a grind, but here we are… we’re hungry.”
— NESN (@NESN) September 29, 2025
Carlos Narváez says that the Red Sox are ready for Game 1 against the Yankees with "beast" Garrett Crochet on the mound. pic.twitter.com/shcexIsDEh
When Narváez was traded to the Red Sox, Boston also acquired ace pitcher Garrett Crochet that day. Now the two will be Boston's battery mates for Game 1 against the Yankees.
"He’s a beast, bro," Narváez said about Crochet. "They know what we’re going to do. We know what we’re going to do, too. There’s gonna be a lot of strikes."
It all starts on Tuesday night. The Yankees and Red Sox will play Game 1 at 6:08 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.