Another roster change in the Boston Red Sox! And this time it involves a startling second base move. A promising young infielder, Kristian Campbell, was sent back to Triple-A after a rough patch. That move has left a gap in the lineup. Who can fill that up? A young talent eager to change his position as per the team’s requirement.

The top prospect was brought up after Bregman’s injury. And he has been making the most of every opportunity. He had a.220/.277/.475 slash line through mid-June, with four homers and six RBI in around 20 games. Not only is his bat impressive, but so is his maturity, adaptability, and quiet confidence.

Ranked as the No. 2 prospect for the Red Sox, Marcello Mayer is the guy in the center. With Bregman expected to return in mid-July and 2B suddenly up in the air, Mayer is back in the conversation, this time maybe as a full-time 2B. In the latest conversation with NESN, when asked about it, he was pretty open and said, “I’m gonna give it my 100% wherever they want me to play.” And that’s precisely what they need from their players.

And when pressed further, whether he has played at 2B in the past. He said, “two or three times in Triple A.” Mayer was quite confident that it’s something that he “can pick up.” He was picked fourth overall in 2021 and hit .271/.347/.471 with nine home runs in 43 games in Triple-A before being called up. And more importantly, he knows how to talk about expectations, pressure, and flexibility, which are all crucial parts of Boston’s culture.

Also, the man in charge, Alex Cora, is aware of his defensive adaptability. He said, ” I know he can play second. I know he can play short. If needed, we’ll do it.” But is this the right call to make? Um, No! And it’s not us who are saying it, but it’s David Ortiz who thinks, “if anyone is going to move to second base, it ought to be an established veteran like Trevor Story rather than Mayer.” 

Amid this dilemma, one thing is clear: Marcelo Mayer is ready. But it’s not only about where he plays; it’s also about how his talent can help the Red Sox in finishing games, as their recent performances show.

Pen and glove in crisis: Red Sox bleed runs in final innings of June

The Red Sox’s late June skid began with a tight loss against San Francisco on June 21. Rafael Devers’ two-run home run against his old team gave the Giants the lead. Despite fighting back, the Red Sox lost. It was frustrating—a game full of costly mistakes—but it laid the stage for what was to follow.

On Jun 22, the Red Sox dropped the series finale 9–5 the following night. Refsnyder and Rafaela homered to put Boston up, but the bullpen collapsed. Four walks, two ejections, and six errors gave San Francisco the lead. As usual, poor defense and relief stifle offense.

Then on Jun 23, the Angels beat Boston again, this time 9–5, in Anaheim. A four-run eighth inning broke a 5–5 deadlock, thanks to an RBI sac fly and a walk with the bases loaded. Walker Buehler’s seven walks and Whitlock’s breakdown made it evident that the team is giving up runs late in the game, even though Story and Abreu have shown some power.

Three defeats and three late collapses. Boston must make changes due to shaky relievers or infield chaos. Last-minute play requires pen strength, defense improvement, and discipline. If they don’t fix these issues, they could be behind by midseason, ruining their summer.