The Red Sox werent anticipated to pursue a shortstop with the No. 4 choice in the MLB Draft on Sunday, but when Marcelo Mayer– the Eastlake High School shortstop considered by numerous scouts to be the very best in his class– slipped to them, they seized the day to draft a teen with an easy swing and lofty contrasts.
Mayer was not supposed to be offered at No. 4.
Here are five things to know about the Red Soxs newest acquisition.
The Pirates were supposedly “50-60 percent” most likely to take Mayer with the leading pick. The Tigers supposedly “desired Mayer all spring.” Per the San Diego Tribune Union, just Pittsburgh, Texas, and Detroit searched Mayer as his prep season wore on.
The final swing of Mayers prep profession was a 450-foot grand slam.
Red Sox
The Red Sox made Marcelo Mayer their draft pick with the No. 4 choice on Sunday. Image by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire by means of Getty Images
Red Sox amateur searching director Paul Toboni on whether he thought Mayer would be off the board: I believe thats reasonable to say.– Alex Speier (@alexspeier) July 12, 2021
Rather, the Red Sox acquired a gamer who has drawn repeated contrasts to Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager.
Mayer matured a Yankees fan
The Red Sox, naturally, can pay for to be patient as Xander Bogaerts is under contract through 2026, although Bogaerts does have an opt-out after 2022. If Bogaerts stays with the team and Mayer establishes as scouts hope, the group might have great issues to solve in the middle of the years.
” It feels fantastic,” Mayer stated on the ESPN broadcast. “Im the most significant Red Sox fan of perpetuity right now.”
The Red Sox might require to be client.
” I 100 percent want to remain at shortstop. As a hitter, Ive constantly had power. As Ive grown stronger, I actually started to take advantage of that power and raise my video game.”
Thanks To Red Sox amateur hunting director Paul Toboni, who spoke to reporters after the choice was made, heres something to temper near-term expectations for Mayer.
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Eastlake High School was removed in the SoCal regionals, but Mayer ended his prep career in style at the plate by blasting a reported 450-foot grand slam with his final swing.
Baseball America composed that Mayer should be “a minimum of” above average in the field, keeping in mind that he slows the video game down and “moves around the infield with silky smooth actions and has the hands, footwork, and arm strength to stick at shortstop long term.”
The final swing of Mayers prep career: A 450-foot grand slam.
Hard news for Red Sox fans: Mayer was probably happy when the Yankees won the World Series in 2009 and would have been ecstatic in 2000 … if he was born (Mayer will not turn 19 for several months).
After the game, Mayer confessed the homer felt “pretty excellent.”
” I 100 percent desire to remain at shortstop. As a player, Ive always had power. As Ive grown stronger, I really began to tap into that power and elevate my video game.”
” I was going up there attempting to hit a crowning achievement, and I got the pitch to do it,” Mayer told press reporters.
Better news: All Mayer needed to change obligations was to be drafted by his favorite groups rival.
MLB.coms searching profile, on the other hand, compared his defensive impulses and ability to Giants three-time Gold Glove winner Brandon Crawford, composing that Mayer “has easy actions, plus hands and footwork and an arm that plays plus.”
Mayers preferred players are Seagar, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Francisco Lindor.
Red Sox amateur scouting director Paul Toboni stated Mayer is 6-3 but has never lifted a weight.– Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) July 12, 2021
On the ESPN broadcast, Kiley McDaniels preached patience however kept in mind Mayer has “all the criteria you wish to see in an All-Star.”
Mayer is an elite defensive possibility.
In his final season, Mayer batted.392 (38-for-97) with 14 crowning achievement and 45 RBI in 34 games for Eastlake, per the Red Sox.
The Pirates were reportedly “50-60 percent” most likely to take Mayer with the top pick. Per the San Diego Tribune Union, just Pittsburgh, Texas, and Detroit hunted Mayer as his prep season used on.
” The modern-era shortstops are more of bat-first guys,” Mayer informed the San Diego Union-Tribune. “Tatis, Seager, and Lindor can swing it, but also field their positions with pride.
