Marcelo Mayer’s latest achievement is putting pressure on Red Sox for MLB promotion
Last week, Mayer made perhaps his strongest case yet for a call-up. The 22-year-old shortstop was named the International League Player of the Week for his stellar performance between April 21–27. He hit an impressive .450 with a 1.530 OPS, adding three home runs and 12 RBIs.
After an injury-plagued 2023, Mayer bounced back in 2024 with his best minor league season yet, batting .307 with 28 doubles, eight home runs, and 38 RBIs. In just 23 Triple-A games this year, he’s already hit seven homers—nearly matching last year’s total.
Some fans have been skeptical of Mayer’s potential due to his injury history, which has limited him to fewer than 80 games in three of his four seasons. However, he turned heads during 2025 spring training by hitting .333 with a .983 OPS across 20 games, including a homer, two triples, and 11 RBIs. His ability to handle major league pitching had many fans calling for him to make the roster out of camp, even without Triple-A experience.
Beyond his bat, Mayer has shown excellent defensive skills at shortstop this season. Over 135 innings, he has made just one error, recorded 31 assists, and participated in eight double plays.
Finding room for Mayer on the Red Sox’s roster will be a challenge. Trevor Story currently holds the shortstop role and has been contributing consistently both offensively and defensively. Another top prospect, Kristian Campbell, has also made a strong major league debut and is being moved between infield and outfield positions to accommodate other players. The team remains cautious with such shuffling, especially after it potentially affected the development of Ceddanne Rafaela last season.
Still, Mayer’s natural position is shortstop, and his solid glove may make it difficult for the organization to overlook him for much longer. His recent accolades only strengthen the argument for bringing him to the majors soon.
