Welcome to Greenville: Mayer, Jordan Set to Join Drive
Two of the Boston Red Sox most prized prospects will be joining the Drive for the final month of the season. Red Sox Director of Player Development, Brian Abraham, confirmed Monday afternoon that infielders Marcelo Mayer and Blaze Jordan, have been promoted from the Salem Red Sox, and that the
Two of the Boston Red Sox most prized prospects will be joining the Drive for the final month of the season. Red Sox Director of Player Development, Brian Abraham, confirmed Monday afternoon that infielders Marcelo Mayer and Blaze Jordan, have been promoted from the Salem Red Sox, and that the duo will be in uniform Tuesday when the Drive begins a six-game homestand with the Hickory Crawdads.
Rated as Major League Baseball’s ninth-overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline, and the top prospect in the Red Sox farm system, Mayer departs Salem after slashing .286/.406/.504 in 66 games with the Low-A affiliate.
Despite missing two-plus weeks of action in April and May due to an injury, the 19-year-old shortstop ranked among the Carolina League leaders in Batting Average (T-6th, .286), On-Base Percentage (3rd, .406), Slugging Percentage (3rd, .504), OPS (2nd, .910), Doubles (T-2nd, 26), and Extra-Base Hits (7th, 36).
The 4th overall selection in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Eastlake HS in Chula Vista, CA, Mayer began to hit his stride on July 1st. Over his last 25 contests with Salem, he hit .313 (26-for-83) – including six multi-hit games – with 3 homers, 14 RBI, and 18 runs scored.
Mayer earned Carolina League Player of the Week for June 27th – July 3rd, after hitting .435 (10-for-23) with five doubles , five RBI, seven runs scored and a pair of homers in five games on the road versus Lynchburg.
Equally as impressive, Blaze Jordan currently ranks as the sixth overall prospect in the Boston farm system. Also just 19-years-old, the corner infielder slashed .286/.357/.446 across 95 games with Salem, where he ranked amongst the Carolina League leaders in Batting Average (T-6th, .286), RBI (T-4th, 57), Hits (1st, 106), Doubles (1st, 29), Extra-Base Hits (T-3rd, 40) and Total Bases (2nd, 165).
A 3rd round selection in the 2020 MLB Draft out of DeSoto Central High School in Mississippi, Jordan also garnered Carolina League Player of the Week honors this season. During the week of May 9th – 15th, Jordan hit .409 (9-for-22) with four doubles, two homers, four RBI, and five runs scored versus Delmarva.
The power that Mayer and Jordan have already displayed in the historically pitcher-friendly Carolina League, will fit in nicely with a Greenville offense that currently ranks in the Top 20 across all 120 Minor League Baseball teams – and 3rd amongst all Class A clubs – with 133 home runs.
The pair will also mark the 13th and 14th prospects ranked within the Red Sox Top 30, according to MLB Pipeline, to play with the Drive this season. They join infielder Nick Yorke (#4), pitcher Bryan Mata (#7, Minor League Rehab Assignment), infielder Matthew Lugo (#11), pitcher Thad Ward (#14, Minor League Rehab Assignment), outfielder Gilberto Jimenez (#16), outfielder/second baseman Tyler McDonough (#17), infielder Alex Binelas (#20, promoted to Double-A Portland), catcher Nathan Hickey (#21), catcher/infielder/outfielder Stephen Scott (#23, promoted to Double-A Portland), outfielder/infielder Ceddanne Rafaela (#25, promoted to Double-A Portland), pitcher Chih-Jung Liu (#26), and infielder Max Ferguson (#30, acquired in a trade with San Diego).