Red Sox promote two exciting prospects to High-A Greenville

A pair of Red Sox prospects are moving up from Salem to Greenville

Boston Red Sox prospects Marcelo Mayer and Blaze Jordan have earned a promotion from Single-A Salem to High-A Greenville, according to Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.

Mayer is the top prospect in the Red Sox organization. The fourth overall selection in the 2021 draft is ranked as the No. 9 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline and he landed at No. 14 overall in Baseball America’s midseason update.

A wrist injury cost Mayer a couple of weeks earlier this season, perhaps delaying his promotion. It didn’t take long for the 19-year-old to get back on track and he’s proven that he’s ready for the next challenge.

Mayer hit .286/.406/.504 with nine home runs, 26 doubles and 40 RBI in 66 games with Salem. He added a triple and swiped 16 bases. The slick-fielding shortstop has also flashed the leather with his fair share of web gems this season.

Jordan isn’t as highly touted as Mayer but MLB Pipeline lists him as the No. 6 prospect in the Red Sox system. He’s been a YouTube sensation for his ability to crush 500+ foot homers and he became somewhat of a legend when he started winning home run derby competitions as an 11-year-old.

The home run swing hasn’t been put on display as frequently as his reputation suggests but Jordan has swatted eight homers in 96 games for Salem. He’s also racked up 29 doubles, three triples and he’s produced a .446 SLG. Jordan isn’t swinging for the fences every time, which has limited the homers but kept his strikeout rate to a reasonable 16.1 K% and helped produce a respectable .287 batting average.

The Salem stars will join a suddenly loaded Greenville squad that includes 2020 first-round pick Nick Yorke, the No. 4 prospect in the Red Sox farm system. Matthew Lugo (No. 11), Gilberto Jimenez (No. 16) and Tyler McDonough (No. 17) are also in High-A. Mayer and Jordan will be reunited with Nathan Hickey (No. 21) and Niko Kavadas, both of whom started the season in Salem before getting promoted.

After relocating to an area near Salem late last year, I’ve had a few opportunities to watch these exciting young prospects. I was at the game when Mayer hit his first home run of the season. I watched Jordan race around the bases to leg out a triple on a ball high off the left field wall that I was certain was going to leave the park.

The vast majority of the players you’ll see at a game in the lower levels of the minor leagues will never reach the majors. Then there are those who are destined for greatness, prospects overflowing with potential that is already recognizable at that early stage of their careers. Mayer undoubtedly fits that profile. Jordan’s raw power could certainly be enough to carry him to a successfully big league career if he can maintain his solid plate discipline.

Both prospects are now one step closer in their journey. Getting a taste of High-A to end the year gives them an opportunity to hit the ground running at that higher level next year, potentially paving the way for the leap to Double-A at some point next season. Mayer has the talent to fly through the system.

While I’m thrilled to see that two of the top position players in the Red Sox farm system are advancing to the next level, it’s a bittersweet moment as a fan living in the Salem area knowing they won’t be in the lineup the next time that I take a trip to the ballpark.