From the second Marcelo Mayer was drafted No. 4 general in 2021, Crimson Sox followers have anxiously awaited his eventual arrival as an enormous league cornerstone.
Now, after an up-and-down rookie season, Mayer could have a possibility to show he’s able to change into a part of the franchise’s current, not simply its future.
Chatting with reporters in Fort Myers, Crimson Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow stated Mayer will likely be within the combine for a beginning job this spring. He stated the membership is assured Mayer will likely be defender at no matter place he performs, and that he appears to be like good after an offseason rehabbing the wrist damage that reduce his 2025 season brief.
“He has an opportunity to come back into camp and compete and present us what he’s able to doing,” Breslow informed reporters in Fort Myers on Wednesday. “We’ve had a number of pleasure round him for a very long time and we’re wanting ahead for that to come back out in his play.”
With no established starter at both second or third base, Mayer is predicted to get reps at each all through the spring. He and new arrival Caleb Durbin are the early favorites to begin at these positions, although who performs the place will likely be decided over the approaching weeks and months.
Breslow additionally stated he appears to be like larger and stronger and has been transferring effectively, however that conserving Mayer wholesome will likely be a high precedence.
Whereas no one has ever questioned Mayer’s expertise, his sturdiness has been an issue all through his skilled profession. Mayer has but to play greater than 91 video games in a season since becoming a member of the Crimson Sox and has ended the 12 months on the injured checklist in every of the previous three seasons.
To assist higher put together his physique for the pains of a full massive league season, Mayer has made getting larger and stronger a high precedence this winter.
“It was one of many major objectives I set for myself going into the offseason. I weighed in at 218 (kilos) proper now, which is by far the heaviest I’ve ever weighed in my life,” Mayer stated final month at Fenway Fest, including that he completed final season at 208. “I really feel nice, stronger and quicker than ever, so I really feel like my physique is in a extremely great spot.”
Although Mayer stated second and third base have a number of variations, he’s expressed a willingness to play each. For now Breslow stated the membership is comfy seeing who matches greatest the place, and if it comes time to select one spot for Mayer to concentrate on, that’s one thing they’ll determine later.
“We’ll work backwards from what’s greatest for the crew and what’s greatest for every particular person and also you hope these issues overlap, however Marcelo has additionally been fairly outspoken about his willingness to do no matter is required, no matter is greatest for the crew,” Breslow stated. “If that’s enjoying one place, if that’s transferring round, if that’s studying a brand new place, I feel he’s searching for a method to contribute.”
