Throughout spring training, Alex Cora made it clear that if Marcelo Mayer was going to make the Red Sox’ Opening Day roster, he’d have to earn it.
After weeks of Grapefruit League play, Mayer did just that. Cora made it official, telling him he’s made the roster and will serve as Boston’s second baseman.
“Marcelo is going to be our second baseman. He did an amazing job in the offseason,” said Cora. “He’s stronger now. He can play second. He can play short. He can play third. … Just a good defender, a good player, and I’m excited about him.”
Mayer won’t be an everyday player to start the season. He’s expected to platoon at second base, primarily facing right-handed pitching, while Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio handle reps against lefties. That arrangement is likely to remain in place until Romy Gonzalez returns from shoulder surgery.
The left-handed-hitting Mayer struggled against southpaws last season, going 4-for-26 with 10 strikeouts at the big league level. Overall, he appeared in 44 games as a rookie before his season was cut short by a wrist sprain that required surgery in July.
“We’ll protect (Mayer) against lefties,” Cora said. “I talked to him about it. I know he wants to (face them) and he will. He will at one point. When? We don’t know.”
The former top prospect was expected to factor in at either second or third base after Boston lost Alex Bregman in free agency and missed on other options. Instead, the Red Sox traded for Caleb Durbin, who went on to win the everyday third base job in camp.
Marcelo Mayer again!
— MLB (@MLB) June 12, 2025
The first multi-homer game of his career 😤 pic.twitter.com/y1t3RwJeA0
Cora challenged the 23-year-old infielder after playing
