Fans will learn who represents the Boston Red Sox in Atlanta when MLB announces the full All-Star rosters on Sunday.
Garrett Crochet and Aroldis Chapman are strong selections for the American League’s pitching squad, but Boston may not send any hitters to the Midsummer Classic. With Rafael Devers shipped to the National League and Alex Bregman still sidelined, the Red Sox lineup doesn’t boast any All-Star locks.
Carlos Narváez may be their best candidate. He didn’t get much love in a fan vote rightfully dominated by Cal Raleigh, but the rookie catcher is seemingly in a close two-man race for a reserve spot.
As of Sunday, Narváez ranks fourth in FanGraphs’ WAR among all backstops behind Raleigh, NL starter Will Smith and Alejandro Kirk. Yet there’s not much discrepancy between Narváez’s 2.6 and Kirk’s 2.9.
Acquired from the New York Yankees, Narváez has seized Boston’s starting job by batting .274/.351/.436 in 67 games. Meanwhile, Kirk has a .301/.357/.414 slash line for the Toronto Blue Jays.
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They both have seven home runs, but the slugging edge powered by 17 doubles gives Narváez a better weighted on-base average (.345) than his AL East adversary (.337). His 118 wRC+ is one point higher than Kirk’s.
Narváez has also established himself among the game’s best workers behind the plate. His 10 defensive runs saved lead all catchers, and yet defense could still favor Kirk.
Statcast rates Kirk as the AL’s best pitch-framer, a skill that gives him the position’s most defensive value after Patrick Bailey. That drives his slight advantage in fWAR despite Narváez (2.7) lapping Kirk (1.5) in the Baseball Reference version.
In other words, there’s no clear answer between Narváez and Kirk.
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Most MLB players probably aren’t studying advanced metrics before casting their ballots, so it could be as simple as favoring Kirk for his higher batting average and name recognition as a 2022 All-Star and Silver Slugger. Or maybe Narváez’s peers will feel inspired by his improbable path to All-Star consideration.
