FORT MYERS, Fla. – Amidst ongoing evaluations of the Red Sox infield options, supervisor Alex Cora concurrently hinted at the popular place for Marcelo Mayer and issued him a strongly-worded problem.
“If he needs to be the beginning second baseman in Cincinnati, there’s a number of work to do,” Cora mentioned Friday morning. “It’s not a on condition that he’s second baseman or third baseman for this group.”
The Purple Sox chosen Mayer, now 23, with the fourth general choose within the 2021 MLB draft, their highest choice in many years. He’s a pure shortstop, however his path to enjoying there within the majors was blocked first by Xander Bogaerts, who opted out of his contract after the 2022 season, and now by Trevor Story, who signed a six-year free-agent take care of Boston earlier than the ‘22 season and performed second till Bogaerts departed. Story opted into the remaining two years of his contract final fall.
Mayer made his long-awaited debut late last May, as a roster substitute for injured third baseman Alex Bregman. With Bregman sidelined, Mayer performed 39 video games and 248 2/3 complete innings at third, together with 28 begins and 20 full video games. His coated second for eight video games (57 innings) and subbed in at shortstop for 3 innings between two contests.
It was a powerful adjustment for Mayer, whose minor league profession included simply six video games and 48 1/3 innings of third-base expertise. The problem was his bat, significantly in opposition to left-handed pitching. He hit .248 with a .739 OPS in 109 plate appearances in opposition to righties, however managed simply .154 and a .416 OPS in 27 PAs in opposition to southpaws. Cora additionally stored Mayer, and choose different gamers, together with Wilyer Abreu, away from lefties at sure factors final season, one thing he doesn’t plan to do as a lot this yr.
There have been a number of offensive highlights, resembling Mayer’s first career home run, at Yankee Stadium final June, however on the entire his offensive efficiency wasn’t what he or the Purple Sox anticipated.
“He wasn’t nice offensively final yr,” the supervisor mentioned bluntly. “He’ll be the primary one to inform you that. Defensively, he was wonderful. Base-running-wise, he’s actually good. However offensively, there’s extra. We all know that, however he has to indicate he can deal with this.”
Mayer has spent most of camp working at second base, whereas newcomer Caleb Durbin, one in all three infielders acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers early final week, primarily manned third. Whereas Durbin underwent a last-minute root canal Friday morning, Mayer slid over to the new nook.
However along with Romy Gonzalez, whose lingering shoulder ailment from final season will probably hold him from the Opening Day roster, the Purple Sox have 2020 Gold Glove winner Brendan Rodgers in camp on a minor league deal, and the switch-hitting utility-man Nick Sogard. Different infield choices on the 40-man roster embrace Kristian Campbell, Tsung-Che Cheng, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler.
“There’s a number of issues that he wants to indicate us this spring, and we count on him to do this as a result of he’s that gifted,” Cora mentioned, “however on the similar time, there’s a number of guys right here that may do the job.”
“AC made it clear that I’m nonetheless searching for a job,” Mayer instructed MLB’s Ian Browne. “So wherever it’s they want me to play, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Sturdiness can be a notable concern for Mayer and the Purple Sox. He suffered injuries in every of the final 4 seasons, to his wrist (2022, 2025), shoulder (2023), again (2022, 2024) and lumbar (2024). In August 2024, he told the Herald he was surprised to be promoted to Triple-A Worcester alongside fellow high prospects Roman Anthony and Kyle Teel. Mayer was on the Double-A injured record on the time, and finally missed the remainder of the season.
Mayer underwent season-ending proper wrist arthroscopy final August, and in consequence is barely behind fellow place gamers as he reacclimates his wrist to hitting by way of reside batting observe and the Trajekt machine. He’s anticipated to make his Grapefruit League debut subsequent week.
Cora’s statements would be the most strongly-worded to date, however difficult Mayer dates again to the early weeks of the offseason. The Purple Sox tasked him with constructing power in the course of the offseason, in hopes it might assist his physique higher stand up to the pains of a full season, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow defined on a couple of event in current months.
Mayer reported to camp noticeably greater and stronger. Step 1, full.
“He has an opportunity to return into camp and compete and present us what he’s able to doing,” Breslow mentioned final week. “We’ve had a number of pleasure round him for a very long time and we’re wanting ahead for that to return out in his play.”
The remaining is as much as Mayer.
“We’ll give him the baton,” Cora mentioned, “however he has to run.”
