Top star made a strong case for a spot on the Boston Red Sox’s Opening Day roster with a standout performance.
The 22-year-old infield prospect was the star of an exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers, going 3-for-3 and falling just a double short of the cycle. He also drove in three runs, showcasing his offensive talent.
He wasted no time proving he could handle big-league pitching. He opened his day with a triple off veteran starter Jack Flaherty before launching a two-run homer to right field against Kenta Maeda in the fifth inning. Even though it was a spring training game, Mayer’s poise against experienced pitchers caught the attention of Red Sox manager Alex Cora.
“You can tell the moment is not big. He’s very comfortable in the environment,” Cora told reporters, via WEEI’s Rob Bradford. “He’s a good player. I truly believe, I was talking to (game planning and run prevention coach Jason Varitek), the higher the level the better he is going to be.”
Despite his impressive showing, Mayer faces an uphill battle to start the season in the majors. With Trevor Story locked in at shortstop and third base occupied by either Alex Bregman or Rafael Devers, there isn’t a clear path to a roster spot. However, Mayer’s strong start to spring training—going 5-for-11 so far—has certainly put him in the conversation.
Mayer’s stock has taken a slight hit over the past couple of seasons due to injuries. His 2023 campaign was cut short by a shoulder injury, and upon his promotion to Triple-A Worcester, he was immediately sidelined with hip and back issues.
Mayer put up solid numbers in Double-A Portland in 2024, hitting .307 with eight home runs and 38 RBIs over 77 games. However, his performance was somewhat overshadowed by the rapid rise of Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell. As a result, both players surpassed Mayer in prospect rankings, despite him being the Red Sox’s fourth overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.
Thursday’s standout performance served as a crucial reminder that Mayer remains one of the top prospects in baseball, with a potential big-league debut on the horizon.
“Sometimes people don’t talk about him—kind of like he’s the forgotten one,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “He’s still a freaking good player. We’re going to move him around. He will play short (Friday). He’s going to keep getting at-bats. It’s fun to be around him, too.”