Red Sox

Jason Varitek dusts off catcher’s glove to aid Red Sox pitchers vs. Rangers

With Wong at first base, Varitek occasionally needed to help Boston's arms warm up between innings on Saturday.

Jason Varitek provided an assist to Red Sox pitchers between the innings on Saturday. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

August 4, 2024

Jason Varitek built a home behind home plate for 14 years with the Red Sox.

Varitek brought back out the catcher’s glove to assist Boston’s pitchers between innings against the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

Alex Cora shook up the lineup on Saturday, planting Connor Wong on first base for the night. As a result, the Red Sox didn’t have a backup catcher available in the lineup. So, anytime Danny Jansen ended an inning on base or in the batter’s box, Varitek went out to warm up Boston’s arms while Jansen got his catcher’s gear back on.

Once a catcher, always a catcher 🫡

With Wong at 1B tonight, Jason Varitek is keeping Houck loose between innings. pic.twitter.com/cXXN4ezB4v
— NESN (@NESN) August 4, 2024

Alex Cora gave Varitek a fist bump upon his return to the dugout, and even jokingly felt his chest to check the 52-year-old’s heart rate.

Varitek returned to the Red Sox as a coach in 2021 and remains with the team despite receiving some interest in previous vacant manager jobs. He’s been an active part of coaching Wong and other Boston catchers. Additionally, he holds the title of game planning coordinator.

Although Varitek’s current contract runs through 2025, it’s possible that one day the career member of the Red Sox could be lured to a new team, especially given Cora’s recently inked extension to remain Boston’s manager.

For the foreseeable future, though, the fan favorite remains with Boston. And, surely the two-time World Series champion brought back a few fond memories when he masked up briefly on Saturday.