Player Profile: Marcelo Mayer

Marcelo Mayer was born in Chula Vista, California, on December 12, 2002. He played his high school baseball at Eastlake High School in Chula Vista. He was the third-ranked high school in California and the 15th-ranked in the country. 

In his first three seasons, he only played in 17 games and hit .306 combined with five doubles, three home runs, 13 RBI, and 16 runs scored. In his senior year, which was 2020-21 he played in 34 games and hit .392 with six doubles, 14 home runs, 45 RBI, and 46 runs scored.

He finished his high school career playing 62 games, hitting .363 with 53 hits, 11 doubles, 17 home runs, 58 RBI, and 62 runs scored. Mayer was committed to playing college baseball at the University of Southern California. 

When Was Marcelo Mayer Drafted?

Projected to be the number one overall pick in the draft, he would fall to four when the Boston Red Sox selected Mayer in the first round of the 2021 draft, the first shortstop chosen.

Marcelo Mayer Red Sox Tenure

2021

Mayer made his debut in the Red Sox system at the rookie level, playing in 26 games, and he slashed .275/.377/.440 with a .817 OPS; he had four doubles, a triple, three home runs, 17 RBI, 25 runs scored, seven stolen bases, and 15 walks. 

2022

He was ranked the 15th-best prospect by Baseball America and 14th by MLB.com entering the season. Mayer played at Single-A Salem and High-A Greenville, combining to play in 91 games, and he slashed .280/.399/.489 with a .887 OPS; he had 30 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 53 RBI, 61 runs scored, 17 stolen bases, and 68 walks.

2023

He was ranked tenth by Baseball American and ninth by MLB.com entering the season. Mayer played at High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland as he continued his journey through the system. He played in 78 games and slashed .236/.306/.433 with a .739 OPS; he had 19 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 54 RBI, 43 runs scored, nine stolen bases, and 32 walks. He also played in the futures game, going 1-1 in his lone at bat. 

Future

ITD ranks Mayer as the Red Sox number one prospect and the ninth overall prospect entering 2024. He is expected to make the big leagues in 2025 but could debut towards the end of 2024.