Frustrated Mayer placed on IL with right wrist sprain, awaiting MRI results
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BOSTON -- Marcelo Mayer's history of suffering an injury in the stretch run of the season has added another chapter.
The rookie infielder was placed on the 10-day injured list before Friday's 5-2 loss to the Dodgers, retroactive to July 24, with a right wrist sprain.
“Yeah, it’s super annoying,” said Mayer. “There's really no way around it. All I can do now is just try to get better from it, keep working harder and try to get back on the field as soon as possible.”
However, it’s too soon to know when that will be, as Mayer is still trying to get a handle on the severity of the injury. He underwent an MRI in Boston on Thursday.
“I talked to the hand specialist, still pretty early in the [diagnostic] stages, not really too sure yet,” said Mayer. “Can’t really give you any answers. I know the doctors are coming in today to have more conversations. I’ll know more about it later today.”
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“We’re still gathering information,” added Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “We'll see what happens. Tough one. We'll know more over the weekend and the week and see what’s the next step.”
Mayer suffered the injury during Wednesday’s 9-8 win over the Phillies, when he was removed in the bottom of the fifth inning.
“It didn’t feel good,” Mayer said. “I just took a check swing my first at-bat and kind of felt my wrist. I didn't think much of it. Was able to throw the ball fine. Second at-bat, the second swing of my at-bat, I just felt like my wrist locked up.”
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During Mayer’s absence, Cora will utilize his team’s overflow in the outfield by giving center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela more starts at second base. Against righties, Cora can play Roman Anthony in left, Jarren Duran in center and Wilyer Abreu in right with Masataka Yoshida serving as the DH.
Prior to Mayer’s injury, the Sox were forced to sit one of their key left-handed hitters against a righty on most nights.
“Everybody says [the outfield logjam] is a problem, or this and that,” said Cora. “Like the great [Terry] Francona used to say, ‘Things will take care of themselves.’ Hate that it happened this way. But Masa can actually play against [all righties now] instead of platooning, and we can play Roman in the outfield and we'll maximize the roster.”
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Mayer, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 Draft, was called up for his first stint in the Majors on May 24.
Though he’s been inconsistent offensively (.228/.272/.402, four homers, 10 RBIs in 136 plate appearances), he’s played strong defense at third and second base. In addition to Rafaela, David Hamilton -- called up to replace Mayer on the roster -- will also see time at second.
Mayer missed the final two months of the ‘23 season with left shoulder inflammation and didn’t play after July 31 last year with a lumbar strain. He battled back and wrist issues in his first full season in ‘22.
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After a productive offseason that included doing pilates, Mayer was hoping to have a wire-to-wire season of playing.
“It's brutal,” Mayer said. “Obviously, this is not a spot I want to be in. I want to be out there playing every day, trying to help the team win. As an athlete, all we want to do is play and go out there and just do what we do best. So it's super frustrating.”