First-round pick Marcelo Mayer signs with Red Sox, takes BP at Fenway (Video)

Author Alex Barth

July 22nd, 2021 7:16 PM

The Red Sox have agreed to a contract with their first round draft pick Marcelo Mayer, according to multiple reports. The deal is worth $6.7 million, the full value of his draft spot – fourth overall.

Mayer’s signing is significant because, unlike in other sports, he could have chosen to attend college and the Red Sox would have lost his rights. The 18-year-old had previously committed to USC.

Ahead of Thursday night’s Red Sox-Yankees series opener at Fenway, Mayer was on had where he got to experience what will likely someday be his home ballpark. That included taking batting practice, fielding drills with Xander Bogaerts, and chatting with manager Alex Cora.

Heading into this year’s MLB Draft, Mayer was considered a consensus top pick. However, he fell to the Red Sox at fourth overall after the Pirates and Rangers elected to go with college prospects, and the Tigers took a high school pitcher. Mayer is the second pick in the top four to officially sign, after top pick Henry Davis.

Next up for the Red Sox will be to decide where to place Mayer in the minors. He’ll likely start in the Florida Complex League, as did their most recent first-round high school pick Triston Casas in 2018 (the Red Sox had no first-round pick in 2019, and there was no minor league baseball in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Mayer is the fifth member of the 20-player draft class to sign with the Red Sox. The team has also agreed to deals with third-round pick Tyler McDonough, sixth-round pick Daniel McElveny, 10th-round pick Matt Litwicki, and 14th-round pick Jacob Webb. This year’s signing deadline is Aug. 1- the Red Sox would lose the rights to any players not signed by then, with those players then able to return to/attend college and re-enter the draft next year.

MORE: What The Scouts Say About Marcelo Mayer

• MLB.com

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  Over the course of the summer showcase circuit, a pair of high school shortstops separated themselves as the top two prep position players in the country. The first is Jordan Lawlar from Texas and the second is Mayer, who hails from the same Eastlake High School that has produced first-rounders Adrian Gonzalez, and more recently, Keoni Cavaco. Mayer has performed like someone who belonged near the top of the Draft this spring.
  
  He has average or above tools across the board, starting with a plus feel to hit from the left side of the plate. He has an advanced approach and knowledge of the strike zone to go with elite bat-to-ball skills and a pure stroke. Long and lean, there’s a lot of raw power for him to grow into, with some scouts seeing a Corey Seager-like offensive profile if it all comes together.
  
  While not a burner -- some scouts have a tick above-average run grades, some have fringy ones -- no one doubts Mayer will be able to stay at shortstop for a long time. He has easy actions, plus hands and footwork and an arm that plays plus. All of it plays up because of his instincts and aptitude, in a Brandon Crawford kind of way. He’s committed to Southern Cal, but as a potential first-round pick, the odds of him setting foot on campus are slim.
  
  Source: MLB.com

• The Athletic

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  Mayer is a left-handed hitting shortstop who doesn’t have the pure upside of Jordan Lawlar, but may be a more advanced hitter for his age. He has a great swing with good balance and the potential for plus power, and he’s a potential 60 defender at short as well. He’s stronger than you’d think on first glance, especially in his wrists and forearms, and could unlock some more power if he adapts his swing to add some sort of stride or weight transfer and stops rolling his front foot. He has great hands at shortstop and there seems to be little doubt he’ll stay at the position. The bat is a carrying tool here, and given his defensive value he has clear superstar upside, although I think it’s his floor as a plus defender who hits for some average that makes him especially appealing.
  
  Source: The Athletic

• Bleacher Report

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  Marcelo Mayer has drawn comparisons to Corey Seager, and it's hard to find a better example of his upside.
  
  With a 6'3", 188-pound frame, Mayer is big for a shortstop, just like the 6'4", 215-pound Seager, whom many assumed would wind up at third base. With smooth actions, soft hands and a strong arm, Mayer should have no problem sticking up the middle even as his frame continues to fill out.
  
  Offensively, Mayer has a hit-over-power profile, and Seager was the same way in the minors and when he first broke into the big leagues.
  
  "[Mayer] has an advanced approach and knowledge of the strike zone to go with elite bat-to-ball skills and a pure stroke," according to MLB.com.
  
  It will likely take Mayer time to tap in to his power potential; Seager raised his slugging percentage more than 100 points last year in his age-26 season. The former will be well worth the wait if everything comes together.
  
  Source: Bleacher Report
• FanGraphs

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  “Mayer should be 1-1, and I don’t think it should really be a conversation,” said one scouting executive. “In terms of pound-for-pound talent, he’s the number one guy. Left-handed, good stick, future power, and plays up the middle.” Among his detractors, there are some questions concerning the up-the-middle aspect of Mayer’s game. While he makes every play and at times can be a flashy defender with plus hands, smooth transfers, a well above-average arm and excellent instincts, he’s also a big-framed kid with below-average run times coming out of a slightly awkward gait. For scouts concerned about this, Mayer becomes a future third baseman; for those who believe in all of the defensive tools beyond the twitch, he’s more comparable to Carlos Correa or Corey Seager.
  
  Source: FanGraphs

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].

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Author Alex Barth

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Alex Cora,Boston Red Sox,Fenway Park,Marcelo Mayer,MLB,MLB Draft,red sox,xander bogaerts