The Boston Red Sox’s top prospect, Marcelo Mayer, has seen his promising season come to a disappointing end once again. After earning a promotion to Triple-A, Mayer was sidelined due to persistent soreness in his hip, lower back, and upper glute. On Monday, it was announced that the 21-year-old shortstop would miss the remainder of the season because of a lumbar strain.
This marks the second consecutive year that Mayer’s season has been cut short by injury, with his 2023 campaign also ending prematurely due to a lingering shoulder issue.
Before his latest injury, Mayer had reminded everyone why he’s considered the crown jewel of the Red Sox‘s farm system. The fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft posted an impressive .307/.370/.480 slash line, hitting 28 doubles, eight home runs, and driving in 38 runs over 77 games with Double-A Portland.
However, Mayer’s recurring injuries have raised serious concerns about his durability. Red Sox manager Alex Cora acknowledged the situation, stating, “Obviously, it’s not ideal. He had a good season, but keeping him healthy is crucial. There’s so much potential, but we need to address these injury issues.”
The Red Sox have been hesitant to trade their prized prospects, including Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Kyle Teel. While Anthony and Teel appear poised to join the big-league roster soon, Mayer’s injury history casts a shadow over his future. With pressing needs on the MLB roster, the front office might have to consider trading Mayer, still ranked as one of the league’s top prospects (No. 5 by MLB Pipeline), to acquire a top-tier starting pitcher or fill another critical gap.
First-year chief baseball officer Craig Breslow previously indicated a willingness to trade top prospects for established MLB talent, and this offseason might be when he decides to make such a move. Although Mayer is expected to have a regular offseason and be ready for spring training in 2025, questions about his ability to stay healthy for an entire season persist.