The Boston Red Sox middle infield situation just got a whole lot more interesting as spring training begins to wind down.
With Rafael Devers finally shifting to designated hitter to accommodate the Alex Bregman acquisition at third base, a significant opportunity has emerged at second base. While consensus thinking had Kristian Campbell penciled in for that role, a plot twist has developed in Fort Myers.
Campbell, MLB.com’s No. 7 overall prospect, has hit a spring roadblock after his sensational 2024 minor league campaign. The 2023 fourth-round selection dominated three minor league levels last season, hammering 20 homers and 32 doubles while slashing .330/.439/.558.
But spring has been a different story entirely. Campbell’s struggles have been pronounced – just six hits in 45 plate appearances, zero homers, 15 strikeouts, and a concerning .158/.289/.211 slash line. His defense hasn’t impressed either.
With Campbell’s struggles, it has opened the door for another prospect to potentially start Opening Day at second base for the Red Sox.
Which Boston Red Sox prospect could potentially start at second base?
Enter Marcelo Mayer, Boston’s shortstop prospect who’s now getting an audition at second base.
Mayer, Boston’s third-ranked prospect and No. 12 overall according to MLB.com, manned second base on Tuesday and Wednesday, showing promising adaptability despite never playing the position previously.
“I think I’m always ready for anything, especially as a guy who’s not established in the league at a position,” Mayer told MLB.com’s Ian Browne. “You’ve got to be able to adapt and do whatever it takes.”
The 2021 fourth-overall selection has been scorching hot this spring, collecting 10 hits in 32 plate appearances with two extra-base hits and an impressive .357/.438/.536 slash line across 15 games.
While Trevor Story has shortstop locked down, Mayer’s bat might be too valuable to keep out of the lineup. One MLB scout shared a bold take with The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, advocating for Mayer as the Opening Day solution.
“He can certainly hit well enough to play there every day. … This would be the high-risk, high-reward option. The downside is he has zero big league experience. … He has the most upside in the organization outside of [Roman] Anthony. Simple as that. Do you want to start the [service time] clock and have him play everyday? … If it were me, I’d roll with Marcelo,” the scout stated.
Mayer has yet to play above Double-A, where he displayed his potential last season with eight homers, 28 doubles, 60 runs scored, and a .307/.370/.480 slash line.
