The Boston Red Sox introduced three of their top prospects last season: Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell, and Roman Anthony. Each had a very different experience, with Mayer’s season cut short by wrist surgery.
Unlike Campbell and Anthony, who both signed extensions with the Red Sox, Mayer has not yet inked a deal and still has much to prove. Craig Breslow shared that Mayer is recovering well from surgery.
“Everything went really, really well in terms of recovery,” Breslow told The Boston Herald’s Gabrielle Starr on Monday. “… He’s doing really well, stronger, he’s put on some weight. He looks more physical.”
Mayer visited Boston last week for a follow-up with the team’s medical staff. His role to start the next season is not yet certain, but the Red Sox hope he can become a key contributor.
Last season, Mayer hit .228/.272/.402 across 44 games, primarily at third base while Alex Bregman was injured. If Bregman returns, Mayer could shift to second base. Once Campbell returns to the majors, Boston may need to get creative to keep both players in the lineup regularly.
Although Mayer’s overall stats were modest, he began showing signs of adjusting to the big league level, posting a .296/.345/.407 slash line in his final nine games.
Heading into the season, Mayer, Anthony, and Campbell were the team’s top three prospects. Campbell made the opening day roster and signed an extension in April, while Anthony debuted in June and extended his contract in August.
Mayer, who debuted in May, didn’t immediately excel like Campbell and Anthony. However, as he proves himself as a difference-maker, he could become a strong candidate for an extension as well.