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Insider Urges Red Sox Not To Consider Optioning Struggling 23-Year-Old originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox have not performed well this season, and part of the team's struggles may stem from over-relying on certain young players to take big steps in their development.
The Red Sox's starting lineup heading into this season included multiple second-year players that the team hoped would make a big impact, like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer. Anthony has spent nearly two months injured, while Mayer has struggled immensely at the plate.
The 23-year-old infielder opened the season at Boston's primary second baseman, but with Trevor Story out, has shifted over to shortstop. In his rookie season, Mayer slashed .228/.272/.402 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in 44 games before getting injured.
The Red Sox had high hopes that Mayer would have a breakout year, but in 70 games, the young infielder has struggled, slashing .220/.282/.312 with three home runs and 22 RBIs. With Mayer not performing as well as hoped, rumors have swirled about a potential demotion to Triple-A.
MassLive's Sean McAdam urges that the Red Sox do not consider sending the second-year infielder to the minor leagues this season, especially with how the team is performing.
"To say that Marcelo Mayer’s first full major league season has been a disappointment would be an understatement," McAdam wrote on Friday. "Clearly, the Red Sox expected more from the fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft. All of which has led to some chatter that perhaps Mayer would benefit from a return to Triple-A, where he could figure out his swing and build some confidence. Mayer wouldn’t be the first player to have to take a step backward in order to move forward.
"But it makes far more sense for Mayer to remain with the Red Sox for the rest of the year. The Red Sox need to know by season’s end whether Mayer is part of the solution going forward. The only way to know that is by watching him play for the next three months. For all the underachievement, Mayer is still just 23. Given the investment they’ve made in him, he deserves some additional time to make the case for himself."
Though Mayer has struggled this season, he's been one of the most hyped prospects that have gone through the Red Sox's farm system in recent memory. At just 23, the young infielder is still developing, and keeping him in the big leagues where he can get consistent reps at the highest level is good for him.
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