As the Boston Red Sox took the field to begin the bottom of the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, Marcelo Mayer, the night's starting third baseman, did not go out with the team.
The Red Sox swapped Mayer for Abraham Toro to finish out the 11-inning win. As Mayer descended the dugout steps to be examined by a trainer, the ESPN broadcast caught him motioning to his wrist. He wore a wrist brace after the game.
The team officially reported that Mayer left the game with "wrist discomfort." He'll undergo an MRI on Thursday in Boston to determine the extent of his injury. The Red Sox are off on Thursday night and will begin a series against the Dodgers at Fenway Park on Friday.
“I just felt a little tight grab in my wrist when I took a swing in my second at-bat,” Mayer said (via Chris Cotillo of MassLive). “I knew I really couldn’t do anything after that so I just called it (a game).”
Marcelo Mayer leaves July 23 Red Sox game, dons wrist brace, will undergo MRI
Marcelo Mayer was wearing a brace on his right wrist and said he will get an MRI.
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) July 24, 2025
“It’s in pain but hopefully it’s not too severe,” he said.
A serious or long-term injury to Mayer could be devastating for Boston's infield at the moment. Alex Bregman still isn't running at full speed or playing every day after the quad injury that kept him on the sidelines for nearly two months, and Kristian Campbell is still struggling to find his swing in the minor leagues. Campbell is batting .200/.373/.300 with 34 strikeouts in 23 games with the WooSox, and his struggles could mean David Hamilton returns to the big leagues if Mayer needs an injured list stint.
Mayer was part of the rally that led to Boston beating Philly and avoiding a sweep. Jesús Luzardo walked Mayer in the fifth inning, and he was on base during Romy Gonzalez's game-saving grand slam. The 22-year-old is batting .228/.272/.402 with eight doubles, a triple, four homers and 10 RBI in 44 games since his promotion to the major leagues.
Mayer's removal from Wednesday's game and the brace on his wrist could mean he's destined for the IL, and the Red Sox will need to call someone up to replace him on the roster. Campbell, Hamilton, Vaughn Grissom, Nick Sogard or Nate Eaton could be among the options.