The Boston Red Sox’s playoff push just got a lot more complicated. Their infielder Marcelo Mayer, who was once seen as the spark of the team chasing postseason, won’t be back this season. Yes, his 2025 season is over. On Sunday, Alex Cora confirmed that the 21-year-old rookie will have to undergo a season-ending wrist surgery.

Now, for a team that is sitting neck and neck in the AL Wild Card race, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Mayer’s injury, which is damage to the TFCC in his left wrist, first popped in late July. First, the team thought that rest and an injection would work the magic, but sadly, it didn’t. Mayer admitted that surgery was on the table and also that he is deeply sad about the way things have progressed.

“I’m really sad about what’s going on,” Mayer told the reporters. “I want to play. I want to help the team win. But that’s just the hand I’m dealt with right now.” And honestly, it is an honest sentiment by him, given that he has dealt with a fair share of setbacks in his career.

This is his fourth straight season where he has missed substantial time because of injury. For the Red Sox, that history is worrisome, although Cora did mention that the team sees Mayer as a long-term piece for the franchise. “You saw flashes of him offensively. Defensively, he’s a stud. Baserunning-wise, he’s great. With more experience, he’ll only get better.” There is an intent to keep him long-term.

Moreover, before the injury, Mayer’s numbers were also pretty modest. A .228 average with four homers and 10 RBIs over 44 games. He looked confident at both third and second base and committed just one error, and posted great defensive metrics, too. Now the Red Sox have to navigate the race to October without him. Ceddane Rafaela, Romy Gonzalez, and David Hamilton will continue to patch things in the infield, meanwhile. But having said that, Mayer’s absence does leave a void that’s noticeable.

The only silver lining seems to be that his recovery timeline is three months. This means he should be ready for spring training in 2026. There is also chatter that he might represent Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. It is happening next March, but the news is not confirmed by Mayer yet. For now, his season is ending in frustration. And for Boston, it is another obstacle in a season that’s already full of them. The baseball gods are not showing them any mercy.

Red Sox face a major playoff threat down the line

The Red Sox season truly is winding down faster than you think. Heading into Sunday, just 38 games remain, and sure, they are in a good spot in the AL Wild Card race, but the road ahead is going to be thorny. As USA Today pointed out, the biggest threat isn’t the Houston Astros or the Seattle Mariners but the New York Yankees!

Since 2019, Boston has been bad when it comes to facing their archrivals. They went 5-14 at Fenway Park and 4-20 at Yankee Stadium in August and September. Add in seven more games against the Yankees before the year ends, and you can understand why Bob Nightengale called it “serious trouble.” But here is the thing: it’s not all doom and gloom for the team, because there is plenty of scope for the team to flip the script.

Now, for one, the team doesn’t meet another division leader till the final week of the regular season. That gap gives them plenty of room to control their fate, and there is also the roster. Craig Breslow made some flashy and some quiet decisions that now have Boston at an advantage. For example, Jarren Durran, who many thought would be traded, but the Red Sox held firm. And look how good that decision looks now, with his speed and that extra base power.

Then there is also Carlos Narvaez, who was acquired from what seemed like a minor deal with the Yankees. But he is now one of Boston’s most reliable contributors and also ranks as one of the best among catchers in the game this season. Those are the under-the-radar moves Boston did that could make major changes this season. So yes, while the Yankees’ shadow does loom large, even New York isn’t doing their best. And Boston has made a smart decision to keep them afloat.