Marcelo Mayer began baseball activities yesterday, a meaningful step after a wrist inflammation kept him off the field for 10 days on the Injured List. He opted for a shot to reduce inflammation instead of surgery, signaling the Red Sox’s intent to get him back for a playoff push. Mayer already played a pivotal role filling in for Alex Bregman during his injury stint, highlighting how crucial the rookie’s return could be to Boston’s lineup and defensive alignment.
Ceddanne Rafaela has taken on more second-base work in Mayer’s absence, moving away from his natural center field position where he’s been a Gold Glove candidate. Mayer’s return should allow Rafaela to re-center his duties and potentially reclaim full-time CF reps. Mayer sports a .228/.272/.402/.674 line with four homers, and he had started heating up—batting .296 over his last nine games prior to the injury. The Sox are hoping Mayer’s presence and Rafaela’s speed and glove keep them in the playoff conversation.
Boston remains in a race for the postseason, and the article also notes organizational chatter about other veteran/pitching moves aimed at supporting the push. The focus, however, stays on Mayer’s comeback timeline, Rafaela’s defensive track, and the continued coordination between infield flexibility and the team’s depth chart as Boston tries to maximize its window while navigating injuries.
