Marcelo Mayer Credits Red Sox Coaching Staff For Major Career Milestone
It was a special day for Marcelo Mayer.
The Boston Red Sox rookie enjoyed the best day of his young career, smashing two home runs and powering the Red Sox to a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on Wednesday.
Mayer, who launched his first career homer last Friday at Yankee Stadium, went deep on the first pitch he saw from Zack Littell in the bottom of the second. His 418-foot solo shot sailed into the right-field seats and gave Boston a 2-1 lead.
The 22-year-old infielder struck again in his next at-bat, drilling another solo blast off Littell to almost the exact same spot in the stands. His 410-foot drive extended the Red Sox’s lead to 3-1, helping Boston win the series finale and clinch their second straight series victory.
After the final out, Mayer praised Boston’s coaching staff for the first multi-homer game of his career.
“I think the coaching staff does a really good job of informing you and getting you ready for the game, giving you really whatever you need,” Mayer told NESN sideline reporter Jahmai Webster. “It kind of feels like I’ve seen these guys in the past by all the work that we do before a game. But yeah, it helps a lot.”
One of the hardest things about adjusting to the big leagues is constantly facing pitchers for the first time, but the Red Sox coaching staff appears to be helping Mayer on that front thorough preparation, game planning and scouting reports.
Whatever information Mayer’s getting, it’s yielding results in the batter’s box. Through his first 15 career games, he’s hitting .250/.313/.523 with three homers, three doubles, four RBI and nine runs.
Mayer’s bat has provided a major boost to Boston’s lineup, which struggled for much of May after losing Triston Casas and Alex Bregman to injury. The former top prospect has stepped up in Bregman’s absence, filling in for him at the hot corner and helping replace his offensive production as well.
With Mayer’s natural talent and exceptional preparation, there could be many more games like Wednesday’s in his future.