MLB top prospect ranking: Red Sox’s Marcelo Mayer ranked just outside top 10
Another top prospect list dropped this week and Red Sox shortstop prospect Marcelo Mayer is once again close to the top.
The latest rankings came from Keith Law, the former member of the Blue Jays front office, who is currently The Athletic’s prospect guru after holding the same role with ESPN for several years.
- Online sports betting is coming to the state of Massachusetts. Learn more about the anticipated online sportsbooks such as FanDuel MA and DraftKings MA
Law has Mayer ranked No. 11 overall in his top 100 rankings.
It’s a seven-spot jump for Mayer, who was No. 18 in Law’s rankings last year. Law said he’s had bad luck, as Mayer has had uncharacteristically bad days when Law has seen him live. But that hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm for Mayer, who is coming off of an injury-plagued 2022. Law wrote:
“The good news is despite the injury troubles, he still showed an extremely advanced approach at the plate, even when he wasn’t at full strength, and finished strongly in Low A and after an early August promotion to High A, hitting .287/.435/.492 from July 1 through the end of the season. Mayer has a smooth left-handed swing that should get him to plus power when he fills out, with loft in his finish and evident hand strength already. ... He’s a no-doubt shortstop with great actions and quick hands — at least, when I haven’t graced him with my presence and caused his vestigial organs to turn necrotic mid-play — and a plus arm. I know I haven’t seen his best, and I take responsibility for my actions. I still think he’s going to be a star.”
Mayer, 20, moved from Salem in A ball to Greenville in High A last season. In 91 games across the two levels, he had 13 home runs, 53 RBIs and slashed .280/.399/.489 with an OPS of .888. He stole 16 bases and wasn’t caught.
No. 11 is actually the lowest he’s been ranked on the three major top 100 lists that have been released so far. Baseball America had him No. 10, while MLB Pipeline had him No. 9.
