Red Sox To Use Marcelo Mayer As Starting Second Baseman, Kristian Campbell Optioned To Triple-A
In a surprising twist, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters (including Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe) that Marcelo Mayer made the Opening Day roster and served as Boston’s regular second baseman. It’s not an everyday role, as Cora said the left-handed hitting Mayer will be safe from other southpaw pitchers. A seasoned striker Isiah Kiner-Falefa or assistant Andrew Monasterio both right-handed batsmen should also be part of this team at the keystone.
Mayer didn’t exactly force the issue by hitting just .214/.389/.321 over 36 plate appearances in Grapefruit League action, but it always seemed like the former leadoff hitter was relegated to some sort of regular role in the Red Sox middle ground as a second or third baseman. After the Sox didn’t reach similar goals Alex Bregman or Bo Bichette this winter, Caleb Durbin acquired from the Brewers and will handle third base duties, leaving second as Mayer’s destination.
Selected fourth overall in the 2021 draft, Mayer has been a top-15 player on MLB Pipeline and Baseball America’s top 100 lists for the past four years. He made his big league debut last season and hit .228/.272/.402 in 136 plate appearances before suffering a wrist injury that required surgery. Mayer played third base last year since being called up to coincide with Bregman’s IL stint, though he played eight games at second base and two cameos at shortstop.
Mayer was originally drafted as a shortstop, and that could end up being his position in the majors once. Trevor’s storyThe 2027 contract is up after the 2027 season. For now, the plan is to get Mayer used to playing in the bigs and for the 23-year-old to prove himself as a regular player. The Sox don’t need Mayer to be a star yet, as it’s a good step in their development for Mayer to stay on the field completely after a couple of injury-riddled years.
In other roster news, the Red Sox picked up Kristian Campbell at Triple-A Worcester, MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reports. The decision didn’t come as a surprise given the crowded nature of Boston’s roster, and playing every day in Worcester made more sense for Campbell than playing less in a part-time role with the Sox.
Last year at this time, Campbell was preparing to make his MLB debut, as the Red Sox opted to add a reliever prospect to their Opening Day lineup. A fourth-round pick by Boston in the 2023 draft, Campbell tore through the minor leagues in his first two seasons, and was hitting so well that he earned a promotion to Triple-A before the end of the 2024 season. Within a week of his first game in the Show, the Red Sox cemented Campbell’s place as a starter by signing him to an eight-year, $60MM extension.
Everything seemed to be going well when Campbell hit .313/.420/.515 over his first 119 PA in the majors, but what looked like a spectacular rookie season quickly came to a halt, as he hit just .157/.241/.220 over his next 141 PA. Campbell’s defense was also a big problem, as he posted -16 Defensive Runs Saved and -8 Outs Above Average in just 471 2/3 innings at second base.
The Red Sox opted to option Campbell to Worcester last June 20, and he didn’t get another call for the remainder of the 2025 campaign. Campbell hit a respectable but unimpressive .273/.382/.417 over 319 Triple-A PA, and spent most of his time on the diamond as the first baseman, as well as seeing time at all three outfield spots in addition to second base.
Where Campbell might end up on the big league roster is still speculation. The Red Sox outfield is already crowded (Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu), plus Masataka Yoshida stays in the outfield and DH mix. Mayer and Durbin have second and third base covered for now. As for first base, it’s an offseason acquisition Wilson Contreras he still has two years left on his contract, so it’s still time for Campbell to wait if the Sox might consider him the successor to Contreras. Residences in Triston Casas and is still in the starting lineup, looking to bounce back from his injury-shortened 2025 season.
Some future trades may offset this situation to some extent, with Duran, Casas, and Yoshida often cited as trade speculators. Campbell’s contract keeps him a part of Boston’s future plans and probably keeps him off the trade market, as any interested teams will be making $57MM in the belief that Campbell will be out of the big leagues.
