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A ‘huge’ Red Sox pinch hit came from ‘slept on’ 23-year-old ‘stud’ in Opening Day win
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- A ‘huge’ Red Sox pinch hit came from ‘slept on’ 23-year-old ‘stud’ in Opening Day win
CINCINNATI — Manager Alex Cora pushed Marcelo Mayer throughout Red Sox spring training camp, making the 23-year-old win a spot on the Opening Day roster .
Mayer accepted the challenge, made the team and had an immediate impact in the regular season opener despite not starting.
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Mayer went 2 for 2 with two runs in Boston's 3-0 win over the Reds on Thursday at Great American Ball Park.
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Mayer, the fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft, came off the bench to pinch hit in a scoreless game in the seventh inning. He led off that inning with a double and scored the game's first run on Ceddanne Rafaela 's RBI single.
"The pinch hit there, it was huge," Cora said.
Mayer also singled to lead off the top of the ninth inning, igniting a two-run rally to give closer Aroldis Chapman some breathing room in the bottom of the frame.
"The quality of the at-bats in spring was huge and something that was kind of slept on," teammate Roman Anthony said. "Guys in here saw it. So getting to see that from him and just kind of rolling it right into Opening Day and off the bench, too — stud."
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With the Red Sox facing left-handed starter Andrew Abbott , Cora started right-handed hitting utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa at second base over Mayer, a left-handed hitter.
"We talked to him at the end of camp," Cora said. "I know he wants to play against lefties, but this is where we're at right now and we got other guys that can do a job. We're going to be aggressive when we have to pinch-hitting wise."
Cora stressed the importance of "maximizing the roster" and said he's going "to use everybody."
"AC makes it clear that when you don't play, you got to stay ready," Mayer said. "So my job when I don't start is to make sure that I'm ready to come in whenever he needs me to. So I was able to come through. It feels great for the team."
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Staying ready is a process.
"Getting in the gym, staying warm, activating, hitting in the cage, stuff like that," Mayer said. "And then when I see a righty come up, I know that's probably a good sign that I'm going to come in. So stay ready for that moment."
Mayer joked that he had "zero" experience pinch hitting before arriving in the majors last season.
"You guys know that they don't do that in the minors," he said, smiling. "But I did a little bit last year. Obviously didn't do it in this spring, but knew that was going to be a part of my role coming into this team. So just mentally preparing for that and making sure that I'm ready to go."
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Mayer went 1-for-5 with three strikeouts as a pinch hitter for Boston in 2025.
"Him being able to do that off the bench and the kind of player he is, is huge for us," Anthony said.
Mayer's double to lead off the seventh left his bat at 104.2 mph and traveled 360 feet. He connected on a 95.5 mph fastball from Pierce Johnson on a 1-0 count.
"Just trying to get on for the team," Mayer said. "Obviously, a really good pitching duel. (Garrett) Crochet did a hell of a job, and their starter threw the ball really well, too. So just try to do my job, led off the inning and try to get on. Just trying to get a good pitch to hit and drive it somewhere."
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This marked Mayer's first Opening Day in the major leagues.
"It was great," he said. "Just try to take it all in. First opening day is special. Had a cup of coffee last year, but it's really nice to break with the team and experience an opening day. I'm super excited for Friday at Fenway Park."
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