Red Sox call up prospect Marcelo Mayer: Source
The Boston Red Sox are promoting top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer, according to a team source.
The long-awaited promotion of Mayer, the No. 28 prospect in baseball according to The Athletic's Keith Law, comes as the Boston Red Sox are expected to place third baseman Alex Bregman on the injury list with a right quad strain. Bregman injured his quad while running to first base on Friday night.
Advertisement
The likely loss of Bregman for the foreseeable future is a blow to the Red Sox lineup, as he was hitting .299 with a .938 OPS in 51 games, but it opens the door for one of the most anticipated Red Sox prospect promotions in recent memory.
The 22-year-old Mayer, the No. 4 overall draft pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, has been near the top of the Red Sox system for the past four years, his ascent slowed by injuries along the way.
This season, however, Mayer has proven he's more than ready for the majors. In 43 games for Triple-A Worcester, he hit .271 with an .818 OPS with nine homers, five doubles and a triple while providing fluid defense at three infield positions.
Outside of two games at third last season in Double-A, Mayer had played almost exclusively at shortstop from the time he was drafted in 2021 through 2024, but the Red Sox began expanding his defensive versatility this season in an attempt to find him a spot on the major-league roster. Though Mayer's offensive consistency and power have climbed through the years, his fluid defense, particularly at shortstop, has been just as impressive.
This season in Worcester, Mayer has played 29 games at short, nine at second and four at third base.
Manager Alex Cora offered high praise for Mayer in spring training.
'Good defender, he can move, he can play shortstop at the big-league level,' Cora said in March. 'He's going to get stronger with time. But we've seen big shortstops, big guys play shortstop in the past. He's a good one. He drives the ball to left-center. There's a few things that he knows that he needs to work on offensively. But the more you see him, you get excited about it.'
Mayer's season last year was cut short as he dealt with a low back strain that prevented him from debuting in Triple A despite a promotion in early August. In 77 games at Double-A Portland last year, he hit .307 with an .850 OPS and eight homers. In 2023, Mayer dealt with a shoulder injury that limited him to 73 games, and in 2022, he battled a wrist sprain and played 91 games.
Advertisement
This spring, Mayer, along with No. 1 overall prospect Roman Anthony as well as current Red Sox infielder Kristian Campbell, spent all of spring training with the big-league club and impressed with their maturity and poise in handling major-league hitting as well as meshing with a big-league clubhouse.
But when the season began, Campbell was the lone prospect who made the big league roster, with Anthony and Mayer headed to Triple A to continue refining their games.
Now Mayer joins Campbell in Boston.
Mayer is likely to see time at third base with infielder Nick Sogard also handling reps at the corner spot. In recent weeks since first baseman Triston Casas' season-ending knee injury, the Red Sox have worked with Campbell at first base, partially to open second base for Mayer. Now, with Bregman down, Mayer figures to see time at both second and third and may see time at shortstop with Trevor Story struggling for consistency at the plate.
Either way, the Marcelo Mayer era in Boston has begun.
(Photo of Mayer during spring training: WooSox Photo / Ashley Green / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
42 minutes ago
- Newsweek
BetMGM Bonus Code NW150: Gear Up For MLB, NHL, NBA Finals With $150 Promo
It's a busy week in sports, and BetMGM bonus code NW150 can raise the bar for fans. Start with a $10 bet to secure $150 in bonuses with a win in select states (CO, MI, NJ, PA and WV only). New players who sign up in other locations will have access to a $1,500 first bet to use on the NBA, NHL, MLB and more. There is no shortage of options available for sports fans this week. The MLB season continues with 15 games on Tuesday night. Not to mention, the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals start later this week. BetMGM Sportsbook should be a go-to option for sports fans in June. Start making picks on the biggest games with these sign-up bonuses. BetMGM Bonus Code NW150: Claim $150 Bonus or $1.5K First Bet This is a unique promo because there are two options on the table. BetMGM Sportsbook will set up players with a 15-to-1 odds boost in Colorado, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Just place a $10 bet on any game, and if that bet wins, players will receive $150 in bonuses. Anyone in a different state will have the chance to start with a $1,500 first bet. Create an account, make a cash deposit and start with a bet on the NBA, NHL, MLB or any other sport. Players who lose on this first bet will be eligible for up to $1,500 back in bonuses. On the other hand, anyone who starts with a winning wager will receive straight cash. Redeeming BetMGM Bonus Code NW150 It's important to note that this promo is only available for first-time depositors on BetMGM Sportsbook. New players can set up a new user profile by inputting bonus code NW150 and providing the necessary identifying information. Deposit cash using instant bank transfer, PayPal, credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or any other preferred payment method. At this point, new users are ready to start with a $10 bet to win $150 in bonuses (CO, MI, NJ, PA and WV) or go all-in with a $1,500 first bet. How to Bet on the NBA Finals: Thunder vs. Pacers The NBA Finals tip off later in the week and the Indiana Pacers have their work cut out for them. The Oklahoma City Thunder are a significant favorite to win this series, largely due to their defense. Oklahoma City's swarming defense has contained the likes of Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards so far in these playoffs. The Indiana Pacers are a dynamic offense led by Tyrese Haliburton's up-tempo style, but it's a balanced Pacers attack featuring Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith and Myles Turner. BetMGM Sportsbook will have tons of different ways to get in on the action this week. New players can start with bets on the spread, moneyline, total points, player props, same game parlays, series futures and more. There should be something for every basketball fan in this Thunder vs. Pacers matchup. 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
Forbes
43 minutes ago
- Forbes
Coco Gauff And Madison Keys Battle For Semifinal Spot And HOF Legacy
US player Madison Keys (L) is congratulated by US player Coco Gauff after their women's singles ... More semi-final tennis match at the Rothesay Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, southern England, on June 30, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) When Coco Gauff and Madison Keys meet in the quarterfinal of the 2025 French Open, more than a place in the semifinal is on the line. A win puts Keys or Gauff one step closer to separating themselves from a crowded field of one-Slam wonders, players on the WTA Tour who have won one Major title. Keys leads the head-to-head against Gauff, 3-2 and won their only meeting on clay (2024 Madrid Open). Gauff is playing in her fifth consecutive French Open quarterfinal. Keys will be in the quarterfinal at Roland-Garros for the first time in six years. The victor will play the winner of the Mirra Andreeva vs. Lois Boisson quarterfinal match. Winning one Major title is a career-defining accomplishment. Many players with long, successful careers never achieve this. But winning two Grand Slam titles puts a player in another category and all but guarantees induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In January 2024, after Aryna Sabalenka won her second Major, she spoke with the WTA about what it meant to no longer be a one-Slam wonder. "It's very sad that people call "one Grand Slam champions" that way. And of course, it was in my head, I didn't want to be a one-time Grand Slam champion," Sabalenka said. "I'm super happy that I was able to win two Grand Slams. And I really hope that I can keep building my tennis, keep getting better, and then hopefully keep winning." Currently, ten active players have one Major title: Gauff, Keys, Emma Raducanu, Sofia Kenin, Marketa Vondrousova, Jelena Ostapenko, Bianco Andreescu, Elena Rybakina, Caroline Wozniacki, and Sloane Stephens. Last year, Barbora Krejcikova emerged from the one-Slam wonder ranks when she defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to claim her first Wimbledon title. During her Wimbledon press conference, Krejcikova said winning a second Major didn't change how she felt about her career. "No, I still feel the same. I mean, it's great that I'm a two-time major champion. It's something unbelievable," Krejcikova said. Krejcikova might not feel differently, but when she won Wimbledon, she stepped over the demarcation, separating one-Slam wonders from future Hall of Famers. NEWPORT, RI - JULY 22: Tennis Hall of Fame inductees Kim Clijsters of Belgium and Andy Roddick of ... More the United States pose for a photo following the enshrinement ceremonies at the International Tennis Hall of Fame on July 22, 2017 in Newport, Rhode Island. (Photo byfor the International Tennis Hall of Fame) There are few one-Slam wonders in the tennis HOF. Michael Chang won the 1989 French Open and reached the Australian Open and U.S. Open finals. Andy Roddick won the 2003 U.S. Open and reached the final at Wimbledon three times in the Roger Federer era. Roddick was also the No. 1 player. Gabriela Sabatini, who won the 1990 U.S. Open. However, she reached the final twice and the semifinals or better at 11 Grand Slam tournaments, often losing to Steffi Graf or Monica Seles. Chang, Roddick, and Sabatini are in the Tennis Hall of Fame. Even with a No. 1 ranking, like Wozniacki and Roddick, or sustainable success like Sabatini, a player with one Major title sits on the Hall of Fame bubble. Anna Ivanovic won the 2008 French Open, reached the final of the 2008 Australian Open, and held the No. 1 ranking. But although nominated twice, Ivanovic has yet to be voted into the Hall of Fame. Neither Gauff nor Keys has held the No. 1 ranking, so a second Major title is essential for Hall of Fame credentials. NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 09: Sloane Stephens of the United States embraces Madison Keys of the ... More United States after Stephens won the Women's Singles final match on Day Thirteen during the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2017 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo byfor USTA) Gauff and Keys traveled similar paths to their first Grand Slam title. They were both teen phenoms with high expectations. Born in Illinois, Keys moved to Florida with her family when she was ten to attend the Evert Tennis Academy. Gauff was born in Atlanta, but her parents moved to Delray Beach, Florida, to support their daughter's tennis training. Gauff trained at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in France when she was ten. In her first Grand Slam final, the 2017 US Open, Keys lost in humiliating fashion to friend and fellow American Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-0. Keys had 30 unforced errors, appeared overwhelmed, and wept after her defeat. Gauff played poorly in her first Grand Slam final, the 2022 French Open. Iga Swiatek defeated Gauff 6-2, 6-4. Gauff committed 39 unforced errors. After the match, like Keys, Gauff sobbed. However, Guaff and Keys have contrasting playing styles. Keys brings the power with a big serve and massive forehand. Although she said she likes playing on clay, Keys is less comfortable on the surface than Gauff, who won the 2018 French Open juniors title. MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 25: Madison Keys of the United States makes the winner's speech ... More holding the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at the Women's Singles Trophy Presentation following the Women's Singles Final against Aryna Sabalenka during day 14 of the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by) Keys captured her first Slam title by defeating two-time Australian Open champion Sabalenka. In Keys' post-match press conference after winning the Australian Open, she told reporters she had to recalibrate expectations. "I felt like from a pretty young age, I felt like if I never won a Grand Slam, then I wouldn't have lived up to what people thought I should have been. That was a pretty heavy burden to kind of carry around," Keys said. "I finally got to the point where I was okay if it didn't happen. I didn't need it to feel like I had a good career or that I deserved to be talked about as a great tennis player." Queens, N.Y.: Coco Gauff holding her trophy after defeating Aryna Sabalenka to win her first grand ... More slam in the the Women's Singles US Open Tennis Championships at Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow, Queens, New York on Sept. 9, 2023 (Photo by J. Conrad Williams Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images) Gauff also defeated Sabalenka to win her first Grand Slam title, the 2023 U.S. Open. Gauff's win trounced the men's final in television viewership. But losing in the 2023 French Open was a wake-up call for Gauff. "Honestly, I feel like probably this French Open is honestly where it changed. Because I felt pressure to back up the final, and I obviously didn't. So I was, like, Okay, well, I've got to reset," said Gauff in a press conference following her U.S. Open win. "Then Wimbledon happened, and that was a tough, tough loss, because I thought I was playing good tennis leading up to that. " That was when Gauff made a coaching change. She hired tennis commentator and coach Brad Gilbert. She went on a tear in the hard-court season, winning. This year, at Roland-Garros, with four-time French Open champion Swiatek and No. 1 ranked Sabalenka on the opposite side of the draw, Keys and Gauff have a good opportunity to make the final. Last month, before the Italian Open, Keys spoke with reporters about how wide open tournaments are in the post-Serena Williams era. EASTBOURNE, ENGLAND - JUNE 30: Madison Keys of the United States shakes hands at the net after ... More winning her semi final match against Coco Gauff of the United States on Day Seven of the Rothesay International Eastbourne at Devonshire Park on June 30, 2023 in Eastbourne, England. (Photo by) 'I think part of it is because we've kind of lost some of our legends obviously. Like there's no longer Serena Williams in every draw where you just assume she's going to win,' Keys said. Gauff and Keys are three match wins from solidifying their legacy as a future Hall of Famer. Even reaching two Grand Slam finals separates them from fluke one-hit wonders. However, winning that second title erases all doubt and ends the one-Slam wonder slander.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Vikings' Purple People Eater Jim Marshall, the 'all-time iron man,' dies at 87
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall, one of the four members of the famed Purple People Eaters front that formed the backbone of four Super Bowl teams, died Tuesday after a long hospitalization for an undisclosed illness. He was 87. The Vikings announced Marshall's death Tuesday on behalf of his wife, Susan. The native of Kentucky, who played at Ohio State and was drafted in 1960 by the Cleveland Browns, played 19 of his 20 seasons in the NFL with Minnesota. The two-time Pro Bowl pick set a league record for position players with 282 consecutive games played, a mark held by Marshall until quarterback Brett Favre broke it, coincidentally, with the Vikings in 2010. 'No player in Vikings history lived the ideals of toughness, camaraderie and passion more than the all-time iron man,' Vikings owners Mark Wilf and Zygi Wilf said in a statement distributed by the team. 'A cornerstone of the franchise from the beginning, Captain Jim's unmatched durability and quiet leadership earned the respect of teammates and opponents throughout his 20-year career. Jim led by example, and there was no finer example for others to follow. His impact on the Vikings was felt long after he left the field. Jim will always be remembered as a tremendous player and person. Our hearts are with his wife, Susan, and all of Jim's loved ones.' Though sacks weren't officially tracked by the NFL until 1982, Pro Football Reference recently completed a retroactive compilation of the primary pass-rushing statistic and credited Marshall with 130½ sacks, which is tied for 22nd all-time. Two other Purple People Eaters rank ahead of him: Alan Page (148½) is eighth, and Carl Eller (133½) is tied for 18th. ___ AP NFL:
