With third baseman Alex Bregman returning from the injured list, questions have swirled around whether infielder Marcelo Mayer should return to Triple-A Worcester or not.
In a corresponding move, with Bregman being reactivated, the Red Sox decided to option David Hamilton.
Mayer was originally called up to Boston after Bregman was placed on the IL. The rookie has been a replacement for the All-Star third baseman as he has rehabbed from his injury.
While Mayer hasn’t been consistent in the lineup, manager Alex Cora let reporters know that he will not leave the MLB lineup anytime soon.
“He’s a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish now and in the future,” Cora said, according to MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “He’s a good defender. Offensively, there’s upside. He can also play third. Alex will play two out of three (games) this weekend, two out of three in Chicago, two out of three in Philadelphia. And we see Marcelo playing third base when Alex is not starting.”
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Cora said that the 22-year-old will also play a lot of second base, as Bregman has third base locked down. The manager also said Bregman will play four of six games after the All-Star break while Mayer will start the other two.
Mayer is batting .224 with a .263 OBP on top of four home runs, six doubles, one triple, nine RBIs and six walks through 37 games played.
“There’s gonna be some adjustments he goes through, but I think the internal clock is real,” Cora said. “He’s not going to panic. We know that. The double play is part of it. Fly ball communication is important. But he’ll figure it out. He’s pretty good at what he does.”
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