LAS VEGAS — In answering a question about how Marcelo Mayer fits into the Red Sox’ 2026 infield with Trevor Story returning to play shortstop, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow issued something of a challenge Monday.
Speaking to reporters after arriving at the general managers meetings at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Breslow said the Red Sox want Mayer — who has never played more than 91 games in a season as a professional — to build strength this winter in an effort to withstand the grind of a 162-game season.
“He needs to get bigger and stronger and be able to shoulder the workload of a full season,” Breslow said about Mayer, whose rookie season ended July 23 when he suffered a wrist sprain that led to surgery. “That’s what the conversations have centered around. To his credit, he’s committed to it. We’re really excited about what he’s going to become and what he’ll bring to spring training. In terms of identifying right now what his role might be, I think it’s probably a bit premature.”
Mayer, a top organizational prospect since the club selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft, has dealt with injuries in each professional season. In 2022, he logged 91 games across Single-A and High-A but was sidelined with similar wrist issues. A year later, a shoulder injury ended his season in early August (after 78 games). In 2024, he played 77 games for Double-A Portland and was promoted to Triple-A Worcester but didn’t see game action after July 30 due to a lumbar strain. In 2025, he played 43 games for the WooSox and 44 for the Red Sox before his season ended two months early.
Mayer is expected to be ready for spring training after undergoing a successful right wrist arthroscopy on August 20 after an attempt to treat the sprain with injections failed. Barring a trade, he’s expected to be on the Opening Day roster. Where he plays is the question.
A natural shortstop in the minors and strong defender, Mayer doesn’t project to get much of a chance at that position with Breslow committing to Story returning to short. Both third base (in the wake of Alex Bregman opting out) and second base are open, and Mayer played both in the big leagues last year, logging 248 ⅔ innings at the hot corner while Bregman was injured and 57 frames over eight games (seven starts) at second. His primary position will likely be determined by how Breslow fills out the rest of the roster.
“We saw a gifted defender,” Breslow said. “This was a guy who has played shortstop his entire life, took some reps at second base and looked completely comfortable and natural. Played third base for the first time over an extended period in the big leagues, starting with his debut, and he every bit played the part of a really good defensive third baseman. I think that versatility is going to be incredibly helpful. I think he can play above-average defense, probably, anywhere on the infield.”
Mayer was listed at 6-foot-3 and 188 lbs. this season. Breslow also thinks his effort to get stronger will help him at the plate, where he was inconsistent and hit .228 with four homers, eight doubles and a .674 OPS in 136 big league plate appearances last year.
“I think it could help him hit the ball harder and more consistently, but I think more than anything it will just help him manage the workload of a full season,” Breslow said. “And just be able to withstand the demands of a full season, which is frankly something that he hasn’t been able to do. Some of those have been just kind of these freak injuries, but others seem to maybe be just the accumulation of workload.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
