On the same day that Isiah Kiner-Falefa took practice reps at first base, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora told the media that Kiner-Falefa, along with Nick Sogard and Connor Wong, will be “backup options” at first base for the Red Sox in 2026 behind Willson Contreras.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Connor Wong and Nick Sogard are backup options for 1B, Alex Cora says.— Gabrielle Starr (@gfstarr1) February 16, 2026
Kiner-Falefa, a versatile infielder, has zero games played at first base in the majors through his career spanning multiple teams. He previously logged a handful of minor league innings at the position back in 2016.
Sogard has seen some major league time at first base during his parts of seasons with Boston, and Wong, primarily a catcher, has made occasional spot appearances at first, including his first career start there in August 2024 against the Texas Rangers.
Wong has actually turned in standout defensive plays at first, such as diving stops and leaping grabs on liners, showing athleticism despite the unfamiliar role, though his innings total at the position is still limited to 15 appearances and six starts.
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Together, this trio offers emergency depth rather than established production at first base, with Sogard and Wong providing the only actual major league reps among them, while Kiner-Falefa’s recent work suggests potential flexibility in 2026.