Red Sox’s Mayer Must Earn Roster Spot, Cora Says
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Marcelo Mayer, once heralded as the Red Sox’s top prospect, is facing a clear message from manager Alex Cora as spring training gets underway: opportunity must be earned.
Mayer, the fourth overall pick in the 2021 Draft, is at a pivotal stage where performance will dictate his role with the team. The narrative has shifted from anticipation of his arrival to a demand for results.
While many expect Mayer to break camp as the starting second baseman – or potentially the primary third baseman – Cora emphasized that a roster spot is not guaranteed. “With Marcelo, we’ll give him the baton, but he has to run,” Cora said, according to multiple reports.
Cora elaborated, stating that Mayer needs to demonstrate he deserves a place on the Opening Day roster in Cincinnati. “If he wants to be the starting second baseman in Cincinnati, there’s a lot of work to do,” Cora said. “It’s not a given that he’s second baseman or third baseman for this team. There’s a lot of things that he needs to show us this spring, and we expect him to do that because he’s that talented. But at the same time, there’s a lot of guys here that can do the job.”
Mayer’s 2025 season was cut short on due to a right wrist injury that required surgery, after he was called up when Alex Bregman went on the injured list. Prior to the injury, he had shown versatility, playing both third and second base effectively.
However, his offensive performance during his brief time in the majors was a point of focus for Cora. In 136 plate appearances, Mayer hit .228 with a .674 OPS, including eight doubles, four home runs, and 10 RBIs. His 85 OPS+ was slightly below league average.
“There’s a lot baseball related,” Cora said when asked about areas for improvement. “He wasn’t great offensively last year. He’ll be the first one to tell you that. Defensively, he was excellent. Baserunning, he was really good. But offensively, there’s more. We know that, but he has to show us that he can handle this.”
The competition at third base is particularly interesting, with Caleb Durbin, acquired in a trade with the Brewers, likely to open as the starter. If Durbin plays second base, the position will be open for Mayer or another infielder in camp.
The Red Sox have a number of infielders vying for playing time, creating a competitive environment. Cora also noted Mayer’s struggles against left-handed pitching, where he posted a .416 OPS in 27 plate appearances last season.
“I think it’s hitting [all pitchers]. It’s not only lefties,” Cora said. “It’s just, ‘Be consistent out there,’ and he’ll be the first one to tell you [he needs to]. I know he has a lot of confidence in his ability. He’ll tell you that he can hit at this level.
“But last year, in a small sample size, he was OK. He wasn’t great. I think he was doing an outstanding job toward the end, but we need to control the zone, not chase so many pitches. So we will see some trends, and if we feel comfortable with him, he will be the guy.”
Mayer will have the opportunity to demonstrate his improvements throughout spring training, with Cora looking for consistent offensive production and a refined approach at the plate. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the highly touted prospect will secure a spot on the Red Sox’s Opening Day roster.
