Watch Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer Start Spring Job Battle With Home Run

Marcelo Mayer wasted no time making his case for an Opening Day roster spot.

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Mayer must earn his place on the team after an uneven rookie campaign. The 23-year-old got off to a good start when making a loud statement on Friday.

Mayer crushed a home run in his first spring training game, taking Atlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias deep in the fourth inning at Florida’s CoolToday Park. Here’s a look at his solo shot, courtesy of NESN on X.

 

Just here to let you know that Marcelo Mayer hit a HR in his Spring Training debut 😌 pic.twitter.com/nf3OlHpqSm

— NESN (@NESN) February 27, 2026

 

Mayer endured some growing pains at the plate following last May’s promotion. The No. 4 pick in 2021 batted .228/.272/.402 with eight walks and 41 strikeouts in 136 plate appearances.

However, his first year was far from a lost cause. Mayer posted a higher ISO (.173) than Roman Anthony and Trevor Story, collecting eight doubles, a triple and four home runs in 44 games. 

The left-hander recorded a 51.7 percent hard-hit rate, and solid defense at third base kept Mayer in the lineup until a wrist injury required season-ending surgery. Yet despite Alex Bregman signing with the Chicago Cubs, Mayer isn’t returning to a guaranteed lineup spot.

Before Friday’s game, per The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey, Mayer acknowledged that he must prove himself this spring.

“I feel like I still got to earn a job,” Mayer said. “I’m not Trevor Story. I don’t have a position stamp that I’m going to be playing Opening Day. For me, I feel like I still need to win a job, and I feel like (the team has) made that clear.”

More MLB: Marcelo Mayer Talks Battle For Red Sox Opening Day Roster Spot