Despite Alex Cora’s Silence, 22YO Red Sox Star Earns Breakthrough Amid Bregman’s Injury Absence

It started with a low murmur in the WooSox clubhouse. A few handshakes. Then a swarm of backslaps and grins. The kind of quiet celebration that doesn’t need a scoreboard — just a ticket to the big leagues. No lineup card, no announcement, just the sound of congratulations echoing before Game 1 of Worcester’s doubleheader. Something was up. That something was Marcelo Mayer. The 22-year-old left-handed slugger, Red Sox’s prized 2021 fourth-overall pick, had just learned he was heading to Fenway Park.

For those watching closely, the signs were there. Mayer, who’s slashing .271/.347/.471 with nine homers and 43 RBIs in 43 Triple-A games, was suddenly out of the lineup. WooSox manager Chad Tracy called it “precautionary.” But in reality, it was preparation. Hours earlier, the Red Sox revealed Alex Bregman’s quad injury was worse than initially expected. The timing? Too perfect to ignore.

“There’s a lot of guys in the conversation,” manager Alex Cora said when asked if Mayer was being considered. “Roster construction comes into play. Guys in the minor leagues, how they fit the roster and all that stuff.” It was classic Cora — vague, cagey, and yet telling. He didn’t name Mayer directly, but you didn’t need a translator. Between the lines, the message was simple: the kid had played his way into the front office’s plans.

The Boston Red Sox are calling up infielder Marcelo Mayer, one of the top prospects in baseball, sources tell ESPN. With Alex Bregman injured, Boston needs infield help, and the 22-year-old Mayer — who’s hitting .271/.347/.471 at Triple-A — will get the first shot at his ABs.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 24, 2025

And let’s be honest, Mayer isn’t just in the conversation. He is the conversation. Boston’s highest draft pick since 1967 has been torching Triple-A arms and showing the poise of someone who’s outgrown the minors. Yes, he’s only played six pro games at third base, but sometimes baseball doesn’t wait for a perfect fit; it moves on instinct and urgency.

This isn’t a soft launch. This is a pressure test. With Boston trying to stay afloat in a tough AL East, Mayer walks into a spotlight that could cement him as more than just a future star, he could be the jolt they need right now. No more buildup. No more whispers. Mayer’s name is finally on the big stage. And if his bat speaks as loudly as his buzz, the Red Sox just might have their next breakout in the making.

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