Marcelo Mayer Made It to Fenway Park for Big League Debut After Losing His Car Keys

We've all been there.
Boston Red Sox third baseman Mayer prior to his MLB debut against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park.
Boston Red Sox third baseman Mayer prior to his MLB debut against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. / Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
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It's happened to everyone. You're rushing out the door, already late for your destination, when you realize a critical part of your departure is missing—your car keys have vanished. Now imagine that happened on the way to your big league debut, like it did for Marcelo Mayer on Saturday, when the prized Boston Red Sox prospect was called up for his MLB debut before the night game in the team's doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles.

The franchise's top infield prospect was thrilled when he learned he'd need to head from Triple A Worchester to make it to Fenway Park to play for the big league club that night. Except the trip he'd waited his whole baseball career to make was delayed because he couldn't locate his car keys.

"I lost them about three weeks ago and never cared to look for them until I needed to,” Mayer said Saturday via MLB.com's Maureen Mullen. Mayer eventually made it to Fenway and started at third base for the Red Sox during Saturday's doubleheader finale. He needed to hitch a ride from a Worcester clubhouse attendant, according to Mullen.

The 22-year-old Mayer was called up after star third baseman Alex Bregman suffered a quad injury Friday. On Saturday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora called Bregman's injury "significant"—he was later added to the 10-day injured list with a right quad strain, bringing the need for infield help in Boston.

Boston selected Mayer with the No. 4 pick in the 2021 MLB draft out of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, Calif. Through 43 games in Triple A this year, he slashed .271/.347/.471 with nine home runs and 43 RBIs.


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Blake Silverman
BLAKE SILVERMAN

Blake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.