Catching up with top prospect Marcelo Mayer
Fair or not, when fans were scrambling for solutions for the Red Sox following Trevor Story's injury one name unavoidably was usually surfaced.
Marcelo Mayer.
Ever since he was taken fourth overall in the 2021 MLB Draft, the assumption was that Mayer would be landing as the long-term shortstop solution for the Red Sox. Initially, it was part of the debate regarding committing to Xander Bogaerts, and now it is in relationship to Story's shoulder-induced absence.
But the reality is that Mayer still has a ways to go before legitimately becoming a major league option, a fact he fully recognizes. It was a perspective the 21-year-old relayed while trudging through the Portland, Maine snow while talking on the 'Baseball Isn't Boring Show' Saturday afternoon.
"I think I do feel close, but obviously I need to handle business here (in Double-A) first. I need to handle business in Triple-A. So there is still two levels to go," Mayer said. "I feel close. I feel ready to go, excited for the new year. I’m ready to show myself and what I’m able to do. Again, I’m healthy.
While other high school shortstops drafted in the 2021 Draft - Jordan Lawlar and Jackson Merrill - have already reached the majors, Mayer and the Red Sox fully understand that the Southern California native's timeline has been slowed by last season's shoulder injury.
This is not going to be the path traveled by Bobby Witt Jr., who made the Royals' Opening Day roster after being taken as a high school shortstop with the second overall pick three years before. Mayer - MLB Pipeline's No. 15 overall prospect - has his own progression.
While he did reach Double-A Portland last season, his performance was derailed due to a shoulder issue suffered in May. It limited him to just a .189 batting average and .609 OPS in 43 games after not having an OPS of less than .865 in either of his previous minor-league stops.
"I have a better shoulder, for one. My shoulder is in a great spot," Mayer explained. "My health is in a great spot. This is the best I have felt in my career so it’s exciting to go into a new year. I feel fresh. I didn’t really get to swing this offseason because of my shoulder. I worked out a lot. I got faster. I got stronger. I think my body is just more mature. I’m ready to go."
Mayer's physical ability was clear to see throughout spring training, where he got into two major league Grapefruit League games along with playing the entirety of the Red Sox' 'Breakout' game against the Braves at JetBlue Park.
"The thing for me is that I felt good health-wise, which is the only thing we were focused on," he said. "I’m excited for the new year. It was good to play games feeling 100 percent, not having to worry about my body or this and that. It’s also nice playing in front of thousands of people, especially in March."