Marcelo Mayer waited nearly two months before getting his long-awaited call to the big leagues on Saturday, and it was a moment that even those in the Boston Red Sox clubhouse had been anticipating for some time.
The 22-year-old got the call while in Worcester for the organization’s Triple-A affiliate’s day-night doubleheader at Polar Park when he got the call. Mayer was called into WooSox manager Chad Tracy’s office, as the No. 6 prospect in baseball was informed that he’d be debuting that same night, just 44 miles away at Fenway Park.
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In between Boston’s doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, Mayer rushed over to join the big-league club. Everyone from Mayer’s family to fans to Red Sox teammate Nick Sogard was thrilled to watch the youngster’s dream come to life.
“I found myself gravitating toward him and Roman (Anthony) and Vaughn (Grissom) and Nate Eaton and Trayce (Thompson),” Sogard told WEEI before Sunday’s series finale with the Orioles. “It’s a really good group down there and we’d spend a lot of time together after the games just hanging out, talking baseball, whatever. So you can say infinite things about the player and the maturity for a 22-year-old. … (He’s) a good kid to hang around with. I enjoyed being around him and it’s fun playing with him.”
Sogard, 27, found himself in Mayer’s shoes last season following the All-Star break. The Red Sox promoted Sogard last July to fill their need for a second baseman, and on Aug. 2, he made his MLB debut against the Texas Rangers. Sogard wasn’t a highly touted prospect with nearly as much hype as Mayer’s, but he’s been servicable.
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Boston re-promoted Sogard earlier this month in the wake of starting first baseman Triston Casas’ season-ending ruptured left patellar tendon. It didn’t take too long from Sogard’s promotion for him to reunite with Mayer as big league teammates.
Sogard got the start at first base while Mayer took the field at third base, and although Mayer’s family wasn’t in attendance — they couldn’t make the trip from California in time — the debut nerves had settled in for Mayer. During his first career putout, Mayer cleanly fielded a grounder, but underthrew Sogard at first base.
Fortunately, Sogard managed to pick the throw and provide Mayer with a helping hand.
“I was joking with Ramón Vázquez after, and kind of joking like, ‘That was a must-have pick,’” Sogard said. “First of all, it wasn’t that bad of a throw. Definitely jitters for Marcelo, but the next one was perfect so I’m glad I got it.”
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Since Casas won’t return, and starting third baseman Alex Bregman is slated to miss a few weeks with a right quad injury, Sogard and Mayer will be counted on moving forward. The duo will continue to log their reps and get their chances to make a difference amid what’s been a challenging 2025 Red Sox campaign.
