MLB Insider: When Red Sox Prospect Marcelo Mayer Could Debut With Boston

The Boston Red Sox have a collection of veteran newcomers and up-and-coming prospects eager to make a difference in the organization.

Marcelo Mayer, the No. 12 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline’s top 100, is among that slew of prospects. Boston has been banking on the 22-year-old’s development for the past few years, all while Mayer has continued to inch closer to taking the field at Fenway Park for the first time. He didn’t get to log any reps with the organization’s Triple-A affiliate in 2024, however, Mayer is still expected to make his long-awaited leap to the big leagues sooner rather than later.

“It might be a month in Triple-A. I can’t tell you exactly how long it’s gonna be,” The Athletic’s Keith Law told NESN’s “310 To Left” podcast. “I don’t think it’s gonna be a full season. I think by mid-year, he’s banging on the door and they’re trying to find a way to make room for him to come to the club.”

Law added: “He’s the guy that needs to go to Triple-A, right? He hasn’t played there. He just lacks playing time. He just has not played all that much over these last two years, relative to these other guys (Kristian Campbell and Roman Anthony) that we’re talking about. But his ceiling is up there with the other two. He’s an everyday shortstop with at least 20-homer power and pretty hard power and pretty hard contact.”

Mayer slashed .307/.370/.480 with eight home runs and 38 RBIs across 77 games with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. Those impressive figures earned Mayer a promotion to Triple-A in August, but the organization’s fourth overall pick from the 2021 MLB Draft suffered a left shoulder injury that delayed his Worcester debut. Still, it might not be too long even with an expected start in Triple-A, until Mayer is up in Boston playing alongside Rafael Devers, Alex Bregman and the rest of the big league club.

Watch the full episode of NESN’s “310 To Left” podcast here: