Ever since rookie infielder Marcelo Mayer landed on the injured list with a wrist sprain at the end of July, Boston Red Sox fans have been anxiously awaiting his return to the lineup. Unfortunately, however, it doesn't sound like that will be coming anytime soon (if at all) this season.
Mayer had reportedly considered undergoing season-ending surgery on his wrist but ultimately opted to get an anti-inflammatory injection with the hopes of playing for the Red Sox again in 2025.
Initial reports were positive, with Christopher Smith of MassLive first revealing that Mayer had resumed baseball activities on Monday — less than three weeks after landing on the IL. However, Ian Browne of MLB.com noted that it didn't sound like Mayer had "had a big breakthrough" since receiving the injection, citing manager Alex Cora's latest comments during his pregame media availability ahead of Friday's series opener against the Miami Marlins.
“Yeah, just dry swings," Cora said of Mayer's progress during his injury rehab. "The last few days, he feels OK, not great. We’ll see how that goes. Unclear [if he will play this season].”
Unfortunately for the Red Sox, "unclear" may be as clear of an answer as any regarding Mayer's availability for the rest of the season. If he's not making significant progress in his recovery now, it's unlikely that Mayer will be able to return to the Red Sox and contribute in a meaningful way before the end of September.
Red Sox Injury Update: Marcelo Mayer's 2025 officially in danger
The Red Sox haven't officially ruled out Mayer's return, but Cora's comments didn't exactly sound promising. Even if he does come back before the end of September, he will have limited time to get back up to game speed ahead of (potentially) the postseason. Those will merely be reps so he can get back on track and be in a good place for 2026.
As long as the status of Mayer's injury remains hanging in the balance, it will be difficult for the Red Sox to make roster decisions accordingly. But with just 40 games remaining on the schedule and no clear timetable for the rookie, Boston fans probably shouldn't get their hopes up.
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