The Red Sox will be out Trevor’s story some time after the two-time All-Star underwent sports hernia surgery this week. Interim manager Chad Tracy said Friday that would prompt a change in the starting position Marcelo Mayerwho has been a full-time second baseman this season (linked to The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey).
Mayer is still on second base in the first game of the evening series against the Twins. Tracy said the 23-year-old is still working out some things by working out with interim bench coach/midfield coach José David Flores. The Sox hope Mayer makes his MLB debut at shortstop on Sunday.
The fourth overall pick in 2021, Mayer was a shortstop throughout his minor league career. Most scouts felt he would hold down at that position despite his 6’3″ height and slight speed. That was mostly a testament to his consistency, his instincts and his ability – even if he might be the best defender ever.
Mayer has yet to get a chance to play shortstop at the major league level; he has three innings of work there in addition to two recent appearances. His first MLB call-up last May came as a follow-up to the Alex Bregman casualty listing. Mayer spent about two months as the third baseman while Bregman rehabbed the quad. He moved to second base when the veteran returned. Mayer, meanwhile, went down with a wrist injury not long ago and underwent season-ending surgery.
The Sox stuck with Mayer at the peak of his first full MLB campaign. They initially considered moving Mayer back to third base while he was playing Caleb Durbin the second time. Former captain Alex Cora preferred Durbin to the hot corner. Tracy stuck to that arrangement, as Durbin played excellent defense despite a lack of production at the plate.
Mayer didn’t do much at the plate either. He is hitting .221/.290/.313 in 146 plate appearances. Mayer only connected on two home runs without hitting multiple drives. He played well at second base but was part of the Boston infield that, except for Wilson Contrerashe didn’t contribute offensively.
The story also got off to a very poor start (.206/.244/.303). Mayer’s move to shortstop will leave second base in the mix Nick Sogard, Andrew Monasterio again Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Sogard, who started at shortstop tonight, has also started taking third base reps over Durbin. The Sox have one of the best shortstop prospects in sports, Franklin Ariasbut the 20-year-old is in Double-A and not a factor in the short term.
