Alex Cora was posed a straightforward question: does he feel the Red Sox have more potential big league contributors available in Triple-A than in years past? The Red Sox manager believes that is the case, pointing to infielders Jamie Westbrook and Enmanuel Valdez bouncing back and forth between Worcester and Boston as evidence of the organization’s improved depth.

Then, without prompting, Cora seemingly offered his endorsement for another WooSox player, one who hasn’t appeared in the majors yet.

“(Nick Sogard), he’s playing great, he’s doing an outstanding job,” Cora said. “Playing good defense, putting good at bats from the left side and right side, just got to make sure people know it, right? That’s what I’m doing right now, and that’s a player when people are talking about you and you’re in Triple-A, you know you’re on the radar. It’s just a matter of time.”

A 26-year-old utility player who was originally a 12th round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019, Sogard has been one of Worcester’s top players this season. The switch-hitting infielder is batting .283 with 10 home runs, 45 RBI, nine stolen bases and an .841 OPS through 75 games, and he’s currently tied for the WooSox lead in hits (82).

He also comes from an accomplished baseball family. His cousin is former Oakland Athletics infielder Eric Sogard and his uncles are former major leaguers Steve and Dave Sax.

Given Boston’s injuries in the middle infield, a switch-hitting infielder like Sogard would seem like a useful commodity, making Cora’s shoutout feel like a nudge to the front office to get him up to Boston.

Theoretically that’s a simple proposition, but because Sogard would need to be added to the 40-man roster, promoting him would come with some complicating factors.

In the short-term adding Sogard would necessitate clearing a 40-man spot, and with no candidates for the 60-day injured list the only realistic way to do that would be by designating another player for assignment. That player could theoretically stay with the Red Sox if they clear waivers, but there’s a risk they could be claimed and lost to another organization.

Then in the long-term there’s also the possibility Sogard might have to be DFA’d himself in response to a future roster move, which could expose him to being lost to another club as well.

Regardless, if Sogard keeps playing the way he has in Worcester he’s going to get a big league opportunity somewhere. The way Cora was talking, it sounds like that opportunity might not be far off.