Marcelo Mayer trying to show doubters improper in Worcester
Purple Sox
“I do know I had a extremely good spring, and the coaches know as nicely.”
WORCESTER — Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell have drawn loads of consideration as potential franchise stalwarts with the Purple Sox.
However the first member of Boston’s famed “Huge Three” prospect grouping in Marcelo Mayer shouldn’t be missed, both.
“I continually attempt to remind individuals. Clearly, a troublesome end the previous couple of years, however he’s in all probability one of the best participant I’ve ever seen, and he’s a particular participant,” Anthony mentioned of Mayer. “It’s been humorous to see the narrative type of shift on him over the past two years. However I’ve at all times mentioned, he’s a stud, and he’s gonna play within the massive leagues for a very long time.”
Kristian Campbell’s meteoric rise in Boston’s farm system landed him on Boston’s big-league roster Thursday as the primary of the “Huge Three” to chop his tooth in The Present. Anthony — nonetheless simply 20 years outdated — is ranked because the No. 2 prospect in baseball by each Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.
But it surely was Mayer who initially entered Boston’s farm system with the very best pedigree, with the Purple Sox taking the five-tool shortstop out of Eastlake Excessive Faculty with the fourth general decide within the 2021 MLB Draft.
Mayer has validated that standing as a blue-chip prospect each time he’s been on the sphere with Boston’s minor-league golf equipment — getting into the 2025 marketing campaign as MLB Pipeline’s No. 12 prospect.
The problem for Mayer, at instances, has simply been staying on the sphere.
In every of the final two seasons, Mayer’s progress each on the plate and within the area has been undercut by season-ending illnesses.
A nagging shoulder damage hindered Mayer’s manufacturing in his first style of Double-A contest with Portland in 2023 — ultimately resulting in him getting shut down for the yr in early August of that season.
A clear invoice of well being allowed Mayer to bounce again with the Sea Canines final summer season — with the expert shortstop batting .307 with 28 doubles, eight dwelling runs, and 38 RBI over 77 video games in Portland.
However a well-earned promotion to Triple-A Worcester in August didn’t lead to Mayer logging any at-bats with the WooSox, as Mayer didn’t seem in a recreation after July 30 as a consequence of a lumbar pressure.
As Anthony famous, these damage woes have shifted among the discourse round Mayer and the hierarchy of Boston’s “Huge Three” personnel.
However Mayer shouldn’t be dwelling on rankings at this stage of his profession — particularly after letting his play do the speaking this spring.
“I imply to me, that’s simply all outdoors noise,” Mayer mentioned. “Like I mentioned, the way in which that I’m going about my enterprise by no means adjustments, and I’m simply staying prepared at all times.”
For the entire speak of Mayer’s damage historical past and his lack of reps at Triple-A, he made a authentic push for big-league reps straight out of camp this month — placing collectively the strongest spring out of the “Huge Three” grouping.
In 20 Grapefruit League contests, Mayer batted .333 with one dwelling run, two triples, 11 RBIs, six runs and eight walks — all whereas enjoying sound protection throughout the infield.
Mayer’s robust play prompted Alex Cora and Boston’s high brass to maintain the prospect with the group for its two-game set in Mexico earlier this week — the place he clubbed one other dwelling run at Estadio Mobil Tremendous.
Regardless of Mayer’s robust play in spring, Campbell’s promotion — coupled with the presence of Trevor Story at shortstop — prompted Boston to ship the infielder to Worcester to open the brand new season.
It was removed from a stunning improvement given the present depth on Boston’s big-league roster, even when Mayer was candid on Friday about his present state of affairs.
“As a participant, and primarily based on efficiency, I really feel like I did earn a spot on that group,” Mayer mentioned on WEEI’s “Jones & Keefe” when requested if he thought he deserved a shot on Boston’s roster. “With that being mentioned, issues are gonna go my manner. And now I’m right here, and you realize, I’m simply gonna get after it each single day. Maintain doing what I’m doing.”
Mayer’s path via Boston’s farm system hasn’t been as fluid (or accelerated) as each Anthony and Campbell.
However Mayer — who plans on additionally logging reps at shortstop, second and third with Worcester — believes that larger returns are in retailer for him and the remainder of the “Huge Three” this summer season.
“I feel the most important factor is simply to maintain doing what I’m doing,” Mayer mentioned of the message from the Purple Sox getting into the brand new season. “I do know I had a extremely good spring, and the coaches know as nicely. They acknowledge that. So for me, it’s simply persevering with to get higher and staying prepared for when my alternative comes.”
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