The Boston Red Sox's Opening Day starting nine were rather obvious when players reported to spring training over a month ago. Only second and third base seemed to be up for debate.
With just over a week until Boston's season-opening matchup with the Cincinnati Reds, skipper Alex Cora all but committed to Caleb Durbin as his third baseman. Second base isn't set yet, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Marcelo Mayer and Andruw Monasterio in the mix for the job.
Sox fans would love to see the job awarded to Mayer, the former top prospect who was so highly-touted for so long. Cora made it clear that Mayer would have to earn the job with improved offense, and the latest comments from the manager suggest he's well on his way there.
“He's playing well," Cora said, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. "He's playing really well. And obviously we have to make a decision. We haven't made that decision, but so far, he's been checking all the boxes.”
Latest comments from Alex Cora suggest he's leaning toward adding Marcelo Mayer to Red Sox Opening Day roster
Mayer didn't start spring very well at the plate, but he's adjusted as Grapefruit League play rolls on. He'd logged two hits, two walks and three strikeouts in his first four games. He really hit his stride in the Sox's March 13 game against the Tampa Bay Rays, during which he logged two hits, two walks, an RBI and a run.
Mayer only posted 44 games in the major leagues last season before a recurring wrist injury ended his season (hopefully for the last time, as he had it surgically repaired). In that short sample size of innings, he racked up a 30.1% strikeout rate. In spring training, Mayer has struck out and walked six times, each, showing an improved eye at the plate.
Many fans and reporters have assumed that Mayer was always a lock for the Opening Day infield job and that Cora told him he needs to earn it to motivate him — just because he's a former No. 1 prospect in the organization doesn't mean he should be awarded the job without effort. Whether that assumption is true or not, Cora seems to believe Mayer has put in the work.
If Mayer isn't Cora's eventual pick for the big league roster, both Kiner-Falefa and Monasterio are solid choices after their great spring training performances — Kiner-Falefa is slashing .406/.486/.469 over 13 games and Monasterio is batting .300/.405/.467 in the same amount of time. Romy Gonzalez is also expected to come off the injured list in early May, adding another middle infield option to the mix.
For now, it seems like Cora is leaning toward Mayer. Red Sox fans may finally get to see what Mayer is made of over a full season in the major leagues.