5 things to know about Red Sox shortstop Marcelo Mayer

Red Sox

The last shot of Mayer’s prep career was a 450-foot grand slam.

The Red Sox was not expected to chase a shortstop with the No.4 pick in the MLB Draft on Sunday, but when Marcelo Mayer – the Eastlake High School shortstop considered by many scouts like the best of his class – eluded them, they took the opportunity to draft a teenager with an easy swing and high comparisons.

Here are five things to know about the latest Red Sox acquisition.

Mayer was not supposed to be available at number 4.

The Pirates would have been “50-60%” likely to take Mayer in the lead. The Tigers would have “wanted Mayer all spring.” According to the San Diego Tribune Union, only Pittsburgh, Texas and Detroit have spotted Mayer throughout his preparation season.

Red Sox amateur scouting director Paul Toboni wondered if he thought Mayer would be kicked from the board: “I think that’s fair to say.”

– Alex Speier (@alexspeier) July 12, 2021

Instead, the Red Sox acquired a player who has made repeated comparisons to Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager.

“This is what the very good players look like at 18 years old [years old]ESPN’s Kiley McDaniels said on the show.[He] has all the parameters you want to see in an All-Star.

Mayer grew up as a Yankees fan

Hard news for Red Sox fans: Mayer was probably ecstatic when the Yankees won the World Series in 2009 and would have been ecstatic in 2000… had he been born (Mayer won’t be 19 for several months).

Best news: All Mayer needed to change his allegiance was to be drafted by his favorite team’s rival.

“It’s awesome,” Mayer said on ESPN. “I’m the biggest Red Sox fan of all time right now.”

Mayer’s favorite players are Seagar, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Francisco Lindor.

“Modern-day shortstops are more of the guys who start with bats,” Mayer told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “Tatis, Seager and Lindor can rock it, but they also line up their positions with pride.

“I 100% want to stay shortstop. As a hitter, I’ve always had power. As I got stronger, I really started to tap into that power and elevate my game. ”

The last shot of Mayer’s prep career: a 450-foot grand slam.

Eastlake High School was knocked out in the SoCal regionals, but Mayer ended his prep career in style at the plate by detonating a 450-foot grand slam with his final stroke.

After the game, Mayer admitted that the circuit felt “pretty good”.

“I was going in there trying to hit a home run, and I had the ground to do it,” Mayer told reporters.

In his final season, Mayer produced .392 (38 for 97) with 14 homers and 45 RBIs in 34 games for Eastlake, according to the Red Sox.

Mayer is also an elite defensive prospect.

Baseball America wrote that Mayer should be “at least” above average on the court, noting that he slows down play and “glides around the infield with silky smooth actions and has his hands, legs and arm strength to stick to the long-term shortstop. “

MLB.com’s scouting profile, meanwhile, compared his defensive instincts and aptitude to three-time Giants Gold Glove winner Brandon Crawford, writing that Mayer “has easy actions, more hands and footwork. and an arm that plays more “.

The Red Sox may need to be patient.

Courtesy of Red Sox amateur scouting director Paul Toboni, who spoke to reporters after the pick, here’s something to temper short-term expectations for Mayer.

Red Sox amateur scouting director Paul Toboni said Mayer was 6-3 but had never lifted weights.

– Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) July 12, 2021

On ESPN, Kiley McDaniels preached patience but noted that Mayer has “all the parameters you want to see in an All-Star.”

The Red Sox, of course, can afford to be patient as Xander Bogaerts is under contract until 2026, although Bogaerts has an option to opt out after 2022. If Bogaerts stays with the squad and Mayer develops as he does. Hope of the Scouts, the team could have some good issues to tackle by the middle of the decade.