Red Sox Get More Bad News on Boston’s Highest Draft Pick Since 1967

Mayer missed time with a wrist injury in 2022, and his 2023 and 2024 seasons ended prematurely thanks to shoulder issue and lumbar strain, respectively. But the Red Sox maintained faith in Mayer, and finally called him up to Fenway Park this season. Now 22-years-old, Mayer debuted for the Red Sox on May 24.

But just 44 games into his MLB career, and with the Red Sox struggling to stay in a Wild Card playoff spot, Mayer appears likely to miss more time with an injury. This time it's the right wrist again. Mayer was seen after Wednesday's game against the Phillies at Philadelphia's Citizen's Bank Park with a brace on that wrist.

Mayer told Tim Healey of the Boston Globe that after a swing during his fifth-inning at bat in the game — eventually won by the Red Sox 9-8 in 11 innings — he felt "a tight grab" in he wrist, and as a result, took himself out of the lineup before the bottom of the inning.

Asked to compare his current wrist injury to the one he suffered in 2022, Mayer said he could not, because the previous injury was "so long ago."

While the Red Sox had not yet confirmed as of Friday morning that Mayer would spend time on the injured list, an IL stint appeared inevitable, according to Globe reporter Alex Speier who also confirmed in a social media post that the Red Sox would recall second baseman David Hamilton from the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox "presumably in relation to Marcelo Mayer’s injured right wrist."

Hamilton was optioned to Worcester on July 11 , to clear a roster spot for the return of third baseman Alex Bregman from a prolonged IL stay.