Alex Cora on Marcelo Mayer's 3-for-3 performance: 'You can tell the moment is not big'
Marcelo Mayer had a big day on Thursday, going 3-for-3 with a triple and a two-run home run, in the Red Sox’ 6-5 win. He was a double shy of hitting for the cycle against the Tigers.
“That was a good time,” Mayer said. “I’m glad we got the win. It’s fun to play with the boys again.”
The 22-year-old is 5-for-11 this spring and making a case to break camp with the club. Mayer looked confident at the plate against two former All-Stars in Jack Flaherty and Kenta Maeda.
Red Sox skipper Alex Cora was impressed by Mayer’s performance despite it only being a spring training game.
"You can tell the moment is not big. He's very comfortable in the environment," manager Cora said of Mayer after the game, via WEEI's Rob Bradford. "He's a good player. I truly believe—I was talking to Tek (Red Sox game planning coordinator and former catcher Jason Varitek)—the higher the level, the better he is going to be.
"Sometimes people don't talk about him, kind of like he's the forgotten one. He's still a freaking good player."
The likelihood that Mayer wins a spot on the Opening Day roster is unlikely unless someone lands on the injured list before the start of the season.
The California native is currently tabbed as the No. 15 prospect by Baseball America. He hit .307/.370/.480 with 8 homers, 36 extra-base hits, and 13 steals for the Sea Dogs before being promoted to Worcester.
He suffered a lumbar strain while in Portland and subsequently was shut down by the Red Sox and was unable to make his WooSox’ debut. Injuries have plagued the top shortstop prospect over the last couple of seasons, and he is expected to begin with the WooSox.
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