It’s time for Purple Sox to clear path to huge leagues for Anthony, Mayer

Purple Sox prospects Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer have little left to show within the minor leagues.

Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer ought to be part of Kristian Campbell with the Purple Sox. (Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Employees)

COMMENTARY

There may be little left for the Purple Sox’s blue-chip prospects in Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer to show within the minors.

Each Anthony (MLB.com’s No. 1 prospect) and Mayer (No. 8) have already made compelling instances for a big-league call-up throughout their respective tenures with Triple-A Worcester in 2025.

Anthony — who turned 21 final week — is batting .322 with a .450 on-base share, six residence runs, and 18 RBI over 42 video games with the WooSox. Getting into Wednesday, the long run star outfielder has walked as many instances (39) as he has struck out on the plate.

Mayer has thrived in his first look in opposition to Triple-A contest, slugging eight residence runs and recording 41 RBI over video games whereas enjoying sturdy protection at each shortstop and second base.

However even with the spectacular physique of labor each Anthony and Mayer have compiled already, they’re nonetheless awaiting that decision to Fenway Park.

Talking in March, Purple Sox supervisor Alex Cora acknowledged that sturdy showings within the minors from each Anthony and Mayer had been going to “push us to make selections” as soon as the common season started.

Requested to revisit these feedback on Wednesday, Cora acknowledged that these selections stay on standby — even because the outcomes with the massive membership proceed to slip.

“That’s an amazing query,” Cora mentioned forward of Boston’s eventual 5-1 loss to the Mets. “I perceive the place you’re coming from. We’re the place we’re at. Proper now, we’ve obtained some guys right here which might be enjoying nice baseball. We perceive at one level, I do imagine they’re going to be a part of this. As of proper now, they haven’t made that call.”

The absence of Anthony and Mayer in Boston’s lineup has not been the only real determinant in Boston’s pedestrian 25-26 report up to now in 2025. The Purple Sox’s beginning rotation past Garrett Crochet has left so much to be desired, whereas the bullpen has been susceptible to extreme implosions at essential instances.

However forward of a recreation the place the Purple Sox may solely muster one run and whiffed 16 instances on the plate, Cora’s declaration of a number of key fixtures enjoying “nice baseball” sounds hole.

Sure, the Purple Sox have our bodies in place who’re presently blocking each an infielder in Mayer and an outfielder in Anthony.

However as uncomfortable because it is perhaps to uproot established veterans, the case must be made that the Purple Sox — in determined want of a spark — ought to begin transferring heaven and earth to carry their two high younger skills as much as The Present.

One solution to reunite Anthony and Mayer with fellow basell wunderkind Kristian Campbell?

Proceed the method of transferring Campbell over to first base, slot Ceddanne Rafaela to the infield … and take Trevor Story out of the equation.

It’s removed from a perfect state of affairs, whether or not it entails transferring a respectable Gold-Glove-calibur expertise like Rafaela out of the outfield or telling a longtime chief in Story to take a seat on the pine (or think about a attainable DFA).

However it’s laborious to disregard the numbers at this level — be it Mayer and Anthony’s manufacturing (and endurance) on the plate, or the dearth of outcomes on the big-league degree from a number of stalwarts.

Story, specifically, goes to place the Purple Sox in a troublesome spot within the coming weeks.

Nearly as good as his defensive work at brief is, his play on the plate has been a net-negative for his workforce for over a month now. Over his final 25 video games, Story is batting simply 13-for-100 (.130) with one extra-base hit, six RBI, and 36 strikeouts.

Changing Story with Mayer at brief would conceivably not lead to a serious drop-off on the defensive aspect of the ball and supply the next upside in the case of pop and manufacturing on the plate.

Upside can be the secret with transferring Rafaela so as to accommodate Anthony. As unlucky as it could be taking Rafaela out of heart, the Purple Sox have to discover a means so as to add an on-base machine like Anthony into their lineup.

Will or not it’s simple to allocate common reps to each Anthony and Mayer given the present logjam in place? Nope.

However as Boston continues to tread water in a season that opened with a lot promise, Cora and the Purple Sox are working out of time — and excuses — to tug this workforce out of an prolonged malaise.

Let’s see what the youngsters can do.