Red Sox Won't Face Marcelo Mayer, And Explanation Is All Too Familiar

The latest Mayer has ever played in a pro season? You might not believe it

May 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Marcelo Mayer (11) reacts after hitting a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Rafael Devers' return to Fenway Park would have overshadowed Marcelo Mayer's, anyway.

On Friday night, the Boston Red Sox played an emotionally charged game against Devers and the San Francisco Giants, with the longtime Boston star homering in a 6-4 Red Sox win. Mayer, who was traded to the Giants at the start of the month, was somewhere on the West Coast.

After partaking in a four-game rehab stint with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, Mayer seemed to be on track to make his Giants debut in Boston, which would have been a highly intriguing subplot. But in a moment that was unfortunately on-brand, Mayer suffered a reported injury setback to nix that possibility.

What happened to Marcelo Mayer

Jun 9, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Marcelo Mayer (11) fields a ground ball in the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Mayer last played on June 25, at which point he went on the injured list with a hairline fracture in his forearm. But his new injury, according to a report from NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic, is a bone bruise in his foot that he suffered at some point during his time in Boston, then aggravated this week.

“He just aggravated it a little bit from being back out there every day,” Giants manager Tony Vitello said, per Pavlovic. “He’s just going to take the weekend off and then kind of reassess things later.”

It's been pointed out on plenty of occasions that Mayer, who was drafted in 2021, has never played 100 or more games in a professional season. As he works to make his way back at some point this year, it's also worth noting that he's yet to play a game later than Aug. 3 in any of those pro seasons.

It wasn't even three months ago that Mayer was getting his first chance to prove he could earn the long-term starting shortstop job for the Red Sox. He had a .631 OPS in 73 plate appearances and played below-average defense, and yet he still likely would have gotten a longer leash had he not gone on the injured list in late June.

So while the Red Sox were getting pilloried by some for shipping out their former No. 1 pick for a reliever in Erik Miller, their front office has to feel like it made the smart move.

If Mayer ever solves his injury woes, he could still have a great career. But that feels like a sadly risky proposition.