Alex Cora Responds To Red Sox Prospect’s Roster Comments

The Red Sox’s “big three” competed in spring training to make the Opening Day roster, and one of them believes he should have made the cut.

Boston named Kristian Campbell to the Opening Day roster and made the 22-year-old its starting second baseman. The franchise’s No. 2 prospect had a solid Grapefruit League run, showing off his bat skills and defensive capabilities.

Marcelo Mayer also made a good case for himself. However, he didn’t make the cut and started the season in Triple-A Worcester.

“Yeah. All that stuff isn’t up to me,” Mayer told WEEI’s Adam Jones and Rich Keefe on Friday when asked if he should have made the Opening Day roster, per MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “But as a player and based on performance, I feel like I did earn a spot on that team. With that being said, things didn’t go my way and now I’m here. and I’m just going to get after it every single day. Keep doing what I’m doing.”

Mayer hit one run home run and recorded 11 RBIs off a .982 OPS in 20 Grapefruit League games. The 22-year-old showed that, when healthy, he can be a difference-maker. However, Boston wanted to stay patient with its No. 3 prospect. The fire Mayer felt about not making the cut was something that encouraged Alex Cora.

“Roberto Alomar cried when he got sent down in 1988, and he became a Hall of Famer,” Cora told reporters, per MassLive.

Cora added that Mayer’s attitude was exactly what he wanted to see from a young player. The Red Sox manager praised Mayer’s versatility and defensive skills and left the door open for the prospect if injuries started to pile up on the big league roster.

Mayer’s and Roman Anthony’s talents won’t be kept in the minors too long, but they’ll have to be patient before joining Campbell in MLB.