Marcelo Mayer has been considered one of the top prospects in baseball since being drafted in 2021. However, playing for the Boston Red Sox means he'll be under a lot of scrutiny.
Mayer has been no stranger to that scrutiny. He's posted strong numbers in the minor leagues, but the shortstop still catches a lot of heat for his availability, or lack thereof.
The left-handed hitter slashed .307/.370/.480 with 28 doubles and eight home runs in Double-A last season. He recorded 38 RBI, 60 runs, and 13 steals in 77 games before being promoted to Triple-A. Despite those impressive stats, we've seen a lot of negativity around Mayer. He was in nearly every trade idea from fans, and people saw him as the odd man out when it came to the top prospects.
It could be argued that his position is holding him back. Mayer has played almost exclusively shortstop, and Trevor Story owns the starting job on the Red Sox's roster. The other top prospects (Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell) have clearer paths to Fenway Park in the short term.
Could Marcelo Mayer land on the Red Sox's Opening Day roster with a big spring training?
However, the talking points seem to do with Mayer's health. After his promotion to Triple-A, he didn't play a single game due to a lower back injury that ended his season early. Anthony (who was promoted at the same time as him) appeared in 35 games for Worcester.
Mayer's had injury problems halt his season multiple times now. That could be a legitimate concern, but fans also need to remember that teams are extra careful with prospects. They tend to miss more time than necessary when they aren't feeling 100%.
All the extra time he's spent on the bench has led to some fans seemingly forgetting how good Mayer is. So what could a big spring training do for Mayer?
Let's start by saying that he won't be winning a spot on the Opening Day roster, barring some ridiculous circumstances. Mayer has yet to appear in a Triple-A game, and Story is healthy.
Have a game, Marcelo Mayer!
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 27, 2025
MLB's No. 12 prospect swats a two-run homer and rips an RBI triple on a three-hit day for the @RedSox. pic.twitter.com/d1yfCkkKqV
However, that doesn't mean Mayer can't accomplish plenty this spring. He posted a big outing on Feb. 27, going 3-for-3 with a triple and a home run. That game was a reminder of his talent at the plate.
Professionally, the stakes are much higher than fan appreciation. Mayer might have a tough time making the Opening Day roster, but he can start to sow the seeds for a major league debut this year.
The Red Sox will likely want Mayer to get some time in Triple-A, but that can be shortened with a big spring. Mayer can catapult himself to second-in-command behind Story given at least a month in Worcester. He can also boost his value by playing other positions, something he'll be doing this spring.
We've seen Mayer go from the top prospect in the system and a top five-ish prospect in baseball to the number three prospect in the system and sometimes outside the top 50 in baseball, according to some in the media. The respect is still there, but it's not on the level it used to be. With one spring training, Mayer can remind the fans and the media how good he is while raising his stock in the organization and leaving the front office wondering how long he'll really need to be in Worcester.