Boston Red Sox youngster Marcelo Mayer has some big shoes to fill. Many expect him to come up to Major League Baseball and be one of the better players in the game, something that might not be entirely achievable for a player born in 2002.
At only 22 years old, Mayer will likely face some struggles at the big league level, and nobody should be surprised by it when it happens.
However, he's starting to really figure it out in recent games, blasting two home runs for the Red Sox against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night. It was a step in the right direction, showing that he has power after hitting a home run earlier in the week against the New York Yankees as well.
And according to veteran Lucas Giolito, there's something on the line for Mayer.
He said on a broadcast that if the rookie can hit 20 home runs this year, he'll get him an expensive gift.
“If he’s able to put up 20 this year, I mean we’re already in June so he’s got some work to do, but if he puts up 20 I’ll have a nice gift for him at the end of the year,” he said, per NESN.
This seems like all fun and games for the two, but it's awesome to see that both sides have formed a relationship.
For Mayer to be the player he needs to be, he needs to learn from veterans like Giolito. Giolito has been around this league for a very long time for a reason, and there's value that he can learn from the right-hander on and off the field.
“Marcelo and I developed a little bit of a bond when I was going through my rehab outings, so I give him a couple kisses on the cheek for the home run,” Giolito said.
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