BOSTON – He’s beginning his career in Major League Baseball with the first name recognition at Fenway Park. Like a Brazilian soccer star, highly-touted Red Sox prospect Marcelo Mayer left Triple A baseball and is now in Boston, forever to be known as, just, “Marcelo.”
The 22-year old infielder is likely to replace third baseman Alex Bregman, who left Friday’s game against Baltimore with an injured quad. He was not in today’s lineup and manager Alex Cora resigned himself to the likelihood that Bregman would have to be placed on the injured list with a severe right “quad” strain.
“I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but yes,” Cora said, confirming the injury which the Sox hoped was simply a tweak, not a strain, never mind a severe strain.
Now, the focus turns to the Red Sox youth movement.
Mayer was the fourth overall selection in the 2021 MLB draft. While he has struggled with injuries, Mayer has excelled through 43 games for Triple-A Worcester this season, hitting .271 and owning an .818 OPS while blasting nine home runs.
He is regarded as an excellent defender, with the vast majority of his minor league career spent at shortstop. Mayer played 29 games at short, nine at second base and four at third this year for Worcester.
Bregman was enjoying an outstanding first year in Boston, batting .299 with a .938 OPS in 51 games. Bregman, who signed a three-year, $120 million dollar deal with the Red Sox prior to the 2025 season, leads all American League third basemen in slugging percentage (.553), on-base percentage (.385), RBI (35), home runs (11) and doubles (17).
Bregman suffered the quad injury after rounding first base on a single to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning and was immediately replaced by Abraham Toro.
Mayer is the No. 8 prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com. He suffered a lower back strain at Double-A Portland last season and only played in 77 games, hitting .307 with eight home runs.
In addition to playing at third base in Boston, Mayer could see action at second as Kristian Campbell is a possible fill-in for the injured Triston Casas at first.
–Field Level Media