Marcelo Mayer feels ready for the Big Leagues. The MLB’s No. 12 overall prospect has had a stellar spring and made his feelings well-known to the Boston Red Sox:
“Yeah, I think so,” Mayer told reporters from the Boston Globe. “Like I said, though all that stuff is out of my control, the front office makes all those decisions, I feel ready. You know, I feel like I’m in a good spot, mentally, physically, I’m swinging it well, so see what happens.”
Through 28 at-bats, Mayer has a .357 batting average, .973 OPS, one home run, and nine RBIs and has shown excellent discipline with a 4-9 walk-to-strikeout ratio.
Mayer, a shortstop by trade, has also shown flashes as a second baseman, furthering his case for a MLB spot. While fellow prospect Kristian Campbell is the more likely choice at the four, Mayer’s versatility up the middle could provide excess value.
Projected starter Trevor Story has an extensive injury history. In the unfortunate scenario in which he sees time on the injured list, Mayer would be a prime candidate for the role. Manager Alex Cora has mentioned he wants his "Big Three" prospects to play regularly wherever they land, so don’t expect Mayer to get called up for anything less.
Another element of Mayer’s game to watch for is his speed. He is not lightning-fast and has not stolen a base in spring training yet, but he did have 17 swipes in 120 double-A games for the Portland Sea Dogs last year.
A scouting report also praised Mayer's understanding of the game and said he “will play faster than his foot speed.”
Cora wants a well-balanced lineup with the ability to put pressure on opponents in the running game. Mayer has many tantalizing qualities and his inevitable debut should excite Red Sox fans.
Until then, Mayer should start in triple-A and continue to prove he is worthy of getting run in MLB.
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