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Red Sox Executive Reveals Why Top Prospect Duo Remain at Triple-A

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Conor Liguori | Last updated May 1, 2025 10:18 AM ET

Everybody in the Boston Red Sox organization knows that outfielder Roman Anthony and shortstop Marcelo Mayer are ready to make a difference at the Major League level.

Anthony is the No. 2 overall prospect in MLB on MLB Pipeline, and Mayer is ranked No. 11. Both players began the 2025 minor league baseball season at Triple-A Worcester.

Before Wednesday night, Mayer led all Triple-A and MLB players with 34 RBIs, and Anthony already had five home runs in 24 games after hitting 18 in 119 combined games at Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester in 2024.

Both players have passed the test against Triple-A pitching and are capable defenders who can positively affect the Red Sox.

On Monday, Brian Abraham, the senior director of player development for the Red Sox, joined the podcast Fenway Rundown to discuss the organization's reasoning for not promoting Anthony or Mayer yet.

“Organizationally, we have some different things that we look at in terms of how our players progress throughout our minor league system that ultimately reach the big league level — skills and numbers that will scale to success at the highest level,” Abraham told Chris Cotillo of Fenway Rundown.

“For Roman and Marcelo, when you talk about guys that are so close to reaching that top level, it’s gonna be a lot more refined, a lot more intimate in detail into the areas that they can improve upon.“

Abraham noted that for Boston's top prospects to be promoted to MLB, there must be room on the active roster and at their positions. Currently, the Red Sox have Trevor Story, Romy Gonzalez, and Kristian Campbell as shortstop options and a starting outfield of Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela.

“It’s balancing what they’re [Anthony and Mayer] currently doing, honestly, with the need at the major league level, whether that be a roster spot, whether that be the positions that are available," Abraham said on the "Fenway Rundown" podcast.

Unless one of Boston's middle infielders or outfielders suffers an injury, it appears Red Sox fans might have to wait a bit longer for the highly anticipated arrival of their top prospects.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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