FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It was a year ago that the Red Sox finally seemed to decide their future behind the plate when they signed Christian Vazquez to a three-year, $13.55 million contract extension.

Four months ago, Vazquez corralled that final, filthy slider from Chris Sale at Dodger Stadium and jumped into the lanky lefty’s arms to celebrate a World Series championship.

Yet in between those two big events, Vazquez’s hold on the team’s catching spot loosened a little. The first reason was that he hit far below expectations (.207/.257/.283). The second is that he seemed to lose focus at times behind the plate, especially in calling the game. Then there was the injury, as Vazquez missed nearly two months of the summer recovering from a fracture to his right pinkie finger.

So, Vazquez, who went 0-for-2 in his first Grapefruit League start on Sunday, an 8-5 Boston victory over the Twins, will spend this spring trying to cement the job once and for all.

And this seems like the year he finally just might do it after being on the cusp many times in previous years.

“I can do it,” said the 28-year-old Vazquez. “Of course. That’s my goal. One of my goals in my career is to catch more than 120 games and I want that very bad.”

Vazquez showed how bad he wants it by dedicating his offseason to learning a new style of hitting from a private coach he hired in Miami.

Yes, Vazquez is the latest to gravitate toward the launch-angle approach associated with his superstar teammate, J.D. Martinez.

“I was working all offseason on hitting,” Vazquez said. “I got a guy to work on my swing, like J.D. and Mookie [Betts] and Jackie Bradley [Jr.] are working on the same thing. We talk about wanting to make an adjustment on the swing, and the pitchers are getting better every year. They are nasty, 97 [mph], sinker, we had to change something. It’s working. I feel very good with my swing and very confident in my swing.”

A little production from Vazquez could go a long way in helping him solidify the top catching spot. His tools behind the plate -- a cannon arm and ability to block and frame pitches -- are obvious.

Vazquez is facing competition from the usual suspects on the Red Sox roster, Blake Swihart and Sandy Leon.

Does Vazquez go in as the favorite?

“No, everybody’s going to play and we’ll make a decision,” said manager Alex Cora. “I don’t get caught up in who has the leg up or whatever. They are three good catchers and we trust the three of them. We’re going to have to make a decision whenever we have to make it, and we’re going to be comfortable with whoever we keep.”

Last year, the Red Sox carried all three catchers. They’ve already said that isn’t sustainable this season.

Vazquez’s top threat for claiming the starting spot comes from Swihart, who has the biggest offensive upside of the trio and has worked tirelessly to improve his defense. Leon, the definition of a glove-first player, profiles more as a backup. One of the three is going to get traded.

“Always the media brings that up, but we’re a family,” Vazquez said. “We’re together in the same boat. One goal to win another World Series, and we are very close and we work together every day. It’s fun to have them here and be with them.”

But there is still the element of competition that none of the three will deny.

“Everybody wants to play every day,” Vazquez said, who started 85 games at catcher, his career high, in 2017. “It’s tough to be on the bench and split time, but it is what it is. We don’t make those decisions. But we’re here.”

The question is which two will still be there by the time the Red Sox open their season in Seattle on March 28.

As for the personal disappointment of last year, Vazquez is over it.

“I got injured, I broke my finger. I came in great shape and I was hitting good after the surgery and hit well in the playoffs,” Vazquez said.

Could the pressure of the new contract have impacted his performance at the plate last year?

“Not really,” Vazquez said. “I don’t think about those things. When they say, ‘Play ball,’ my mind changes and it’s different.”

Vazquez understands why he is again being asked to win the job.

“Of course,” said Vazquez. “I need to be more consistent in my game.”

Cora was frank with his catcher in those disappointing early few weeks of last season.

“He wasn’t the guy we expected and I told him that,” Cora said. “I feel when he got hurt, he was starting to play better. Then he, toward the end of the season, he did a good job, not only offensively but defensively.”

And even if Cora isn’t ready to hand Vazquez a job, he is willing to express faith that he has what it takes to earn it.

“He did an outstanding job in the offseason,” said Cora. “You can see physically, he looks a lot better. Offensively, he worked on his swing. You see it in batting practice. He’s hitting the ball in the air a lot. He’s driving the ball. He’s in a good place right now.”