The debut had all the markings of a franchise-altering moment. Marcelo Mayer, once the crown jewel of Boston’s farm system, strode into Fenway Park with a swing built for the spotlight. Fans leaned into the moment, hoping the 21-year-old shortstop would breathe life into a lineup teetering on irrelevance. But as the innings wore on and Mayer struck out twice with minimal impact, one truth became clear: This wasn’t the answer. Not yet.

Red Sox decision-makers might have hoped Mayer would fill more than just Trevor Story’s shoes. Maybe, just maybe, he’d help patch the hole left when Boston failed to land a player like Alex Bregman, an infielder with pop, presence, and playoff pedigree. But as Chris Cotillo noted, Mayer’s call-up wasn’t a bold pivot. It was damage control. And it didn’t move the needle.

“For a team that needs a spark, the spark doesn’t really come in the way of Mayer in my mind,” Cotillo exclaimed. “He’s a great player. Probably he’s going to be a great player, but it’s because of a catastrophic injury. With Anthony, it could kind of be like, hey, we need to turn this around… I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s any day, he has nothing left to prove in the minors.”

That’s where things get interesting.

Roman Anthony, Boston’s top prospect still marinating in Triple-A, is crushing baseballs and making it increasingly difficult for the front office to justify his absence. He’s batting .323 with an OPS that flirts with the clouds. Power? Yes. Plate discipline? Better than half the current lineup. And energy? The exact kind the Red Sox are missing.

But here’s the problem: The outfield is packed. Jarren Duran is playing like a breakout star. Wilyer Abreu’s bat has found rhythm. Ceddanne Rafaela is too dynamic to bench. And Rafael Devers? He’s eating up DH reps like clockwork.

So, how does Anthony fit?

Rafaela’s role could be the key to unlocking a call-up in the Red Sox

The Red Sox may not be ready to say it yet, but they are getting close to a juncture in their decision-making process. Roman Anthony’s exceptional performance in Triple A has created a situation where delaying any further might restrict them from properly utilizing an asset at their disposal. But there’s a puzzle piece quietly complicating everything.

Ceddanne Rafaela. As dynamic and athletic as any player on the roster, Rafaela is both a blessing and a blockade. His presence in the outfield makes Anthony’s path to the big leagues harder to chart, but also opens the door to creative solutions.

That creativity may start with positional flexibility. Manager Alex Cora has already floated the idea of using Rafaela in multiple roles. “He’s a guy who can play short, center field, second base, even third in a pinch.” And he’s not wrong.

Rafaela came up through the system as a natural shortstop and has shown flashes of defensive brilliance all over the diamond. But the Red Sox have mostly locked him into center field, where he’s stabilized an otherwise shaky defense. Moving him now would require calculated risk, but one that might be worth taking if it means getting Anthony’s bat in the lineup.

The conversation, then, isn’t just about Rafaela or Anthony; it’s about urgency. Chris Cotillo put it plainly: “If they get creative with Rafaela… maybe that clears the path. A couple more losses, and that urgency comes even more into play.” That creativity could include using Rafaela as a true super-utility player, bouncing between center, short, and second, depending on matchups and rest days.

It wouldn’t be the first time Boston leaned on versatility to spark momentum. And in a season that already feels dangerously close to slipping away, it might be the kind of bold maneuver that shifts momentum.

After all, a bat like Anthony’s doesn’t just sit idle, not when October’s slipping further into the distance with every loss.