Marcelo Mayer left the Boston Red Sox's July 23 game against the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth inning. After the game, he appeared with a brace on his wrist, and he was sent for an MRI.
The Red Sox have placed Mayer on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to July 24, with a wrist sprain, first reported by Chris Cotillo of MassLive. There isn't an official timeline for Mayer's return, but he told reporters he would visit with team medical staff to determine the severity of the sprain. His absence comes while the lineup is already a bit stretched — Alex Bregman is fresh off a quad injury and is still working up to everyday play, and Kristian Campbell is still struggling to find his swing in Worcester.
To replace Mayer on the roster, the Red Sox have recalled David Hamilton from Triple-A. Hamilton had been on the active roster from Opening Day until July 11, the day Bregman was reactivated from the IL. The infielder struggled at the plate throughout the first half, with a .179/.229/.276 slash line in 62 appearances.
Some Sox fans theorized that Vaughn Grissom may be called up to replace Mayer. The Red Sox acquired Grissom before the 2024 season as their return in the Chris Sale trade and he's played just 31 games in the big leagues since. He spent much of last season sidelined by injuries and scuffling in Triple-A. He's looked quite different this season, and Boston is strangely reluctant to give him a chance.
Red Sox place Marcelo Mayer on 10-day IL, recall David Hamilton instead of Vaughn Grissom
Grissom is batting .280/.352/.439 with 24 doubles, nine home runs and 39 RBI in 84 games. He's been swinging particularly well in July, with a .362/.396/.596 slash line in 13 games this month. The Red Sox are fighting for a Wild Card spot and justification to go big at the trade deadline — they should be running with as many hot bats as possible.
Hamilton has more experience in the big leagues this season, but he hasn't worked out in the lineup so far. He does have superior speed and improved defense in the middle infield; however, neither of those things should justify calling him back to the big leagues so soon before giving Grissom, who's on a tear, a chance.