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Yankees Notes: Offense produces 10-pack of runs at Coors Field, Max Fried continues to make history

It didn't take long for the Yankees to shrug off Friday's humiliating loss to the historically awful Rockies. They corrected those wrongs by resembling the far superior team less than 24 hours later.

Those who visited Coors Field with hopes of witnessing a two-game winning streak from one of the worst clubs ever assembled in MLB's modern era were disappointed. Reality set back in on Saturday, as the Yankees produced a mammoth 10-run inning en route to a 13-1 drubbing of the lowly Rockies.

With the score knotted at 1-1 entering the fifth, New York proceeded to send 14 batters to the plate, and the offensive eruption featured seven hits, three walks, and one error. Ironically, the monstrous rally ended with a strikeout of Aaron Judge, who drew first blood just 10 pitches into the game with his 18th home run of the season.

Each player in the Yankees' lineup registered a hit, and the trio of Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and DJ LeMahieu logged three knocks apiece. New York totalled a season-high 21 hits, and the fifth-inning barrage also marked the Yankees' first season with multiple 10-run frames since 2009.

"It just started to snowball. We had a few games here where the offense had been held down," Yankees manager Aaron Boonetold reporters after the win. "To have a breakout inning like that was really good to see. Just a lot of really outstanding at-bats that inning. Today was just a really good example of a snowball inning... Coming off four or five days where we hadn't scored a bunch, to break out like that, was nice."

Pitching to the Max

While only one-third of the season is in the books, Max Fried has been earning every penny of the record-breaking contract he signed in free agency this past offseason. The veteran lefty once again resembled an ace, completing 7.1 innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts and two pickoffs. He also lowered his season ERA to a league-best 1.29 and threw an economical 83 pitches.

Fried also made some history of his own. According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, the southpaw's laudable ERA is the lowest by a Yankee in his first 11 starts of a season since earned runs became an official stat, back in 1913. The immense pressure to lead New York's rotation with Gerrit Cole sidelined for all of 2025 hasn't fazed Fried. The pinstripes clearly aren't too heavy for him.

"The elements are different [at Coors Field]. It's more about making pitches and making sure you're executing those pitches," Fried explained. "Because the ones that hang and are left over the plate really can beat you. It's really about making sure you're staying on top of it... We're in a good position to win games, that's all I can really control. Everything else is nice, but for me, when I take the ball, I really just want us to win. That's been my main goal."

Langs also noted that Fried -- who now owns an AL-best seven wins -- has the fourth-lowest ERA for a pitcher through their first 11 starts with a new franchise over the last 30 seasons. His next challenge will come against the reigning champion Dodgers at Chavez Ravine next weekend.

Striking Gold against lefties

Goldschmidt's placement atop the Yankees' lineup on Saturday was calculated and predictable. Entering the game, the veteran first baseman had a stellar .538 average with nine extra-base hits against left-handers this season (48 plate appearances), and the Rockies' starter was -- surprise! -- southpaw Kyle Freeland.

In the leadoff spot, Goldschmidt went 3-for-4 with an RBI single, two runs scored, and a walk. His season average now sits at .344 -- third-best in the majors -- and a change of scenery has undoubtedly rejuvenated the 37-year-old slugger.

"I know the last couple games we hadn't scored that much. I feel like yesterday we had a lot of chances," Goldschmidt said. "Same thing today, those first few innings, we had a bunch of people on base and then some double plays. So I think the mindset is, just continue to have good at-bats and know there could be a big inning or a lot of small innings. Fortunate to get all of those runs there."

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Yankees' offense erupts for 10 runs in fifth inning en route to 13-1 win over Rockies

The Yankees' offense erupted for 13 runs and a season-high 21 hits, thanks to a 10-run fifth inning, in their 13-1 rout of the Rockies in Colorado on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday marked the second time the Yankees have produced a 10-plus run inning this season (May 6). It's also the first time that's happened multiple times in one season since 2009.

Here are the takeaways...

-After homering in his first game at Coors Field, Aaron Judge gave the Denver crowd an encore with a solo shot in the first inning. Judge went the other way, 405 feet off of Kyle Freeland for his 18th homer of the season.

Aside from the Judge blast, the Yankees' offense just couldn't get much going, leaving runners on base and grounding into double plays. But that changed in the fifth. Austin Wells hit a leadoff single, which was followed by Oswald Peraza's double that scored the Yankees' catcher. Trent Grisham then hit a chopper at the plate and Freeland made a poor throw that got by the first baseman, which allowed Peraza to score.

Cody Bellinger drove in the third run of the inning with a sacrifice fly after Judge was intentionally walked to load the bases. Anthony Volpe singled up the middle that hit second base and bounced off the second baseman's glove. Jasson Dominguez hit a sacrifice fly that scored Judge, Wells doubled to score two, Paul Goldschmidt hit an RBI single and Grisham capped off the 10-run inning with a two-run double.

After 10 runs on seven hits, three walks, and one error, the inning mercifully ended on a Judge strikeout. The Yanks sent up 14 batters in the fifth.

-After scoring just two runs on five hits in Friday's loss, the Yankees' offense came to play. Every starter registered at least one hit, with Goldschmidt, Bellinger, Volpe and DJ LeMahieu picking up three knocks apiece. Even J.C. Escarra and Pablo Reyes picked up hits in mop-up duty.

Bellinger got the series opener off after his 15-game hitting streak was snapped on Thursday. Back in the lineup, the veteran outfielder hit a double in his first at-bat and finished 2-for-4. Judge went 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout and his season batting average dipped to .395.

-The run support was more than enough for Max Fried. The southpaw got through the Rockies' lineup with relative ease, scattering six hits and a walk while allowing just one run. Fried was very economical, throwing just 77 pitches entering the eighth inning. After a strikeout on six pitches to start the inning, manager Aaron Boone pulled his ace.

Fried allowed just one run on six hits and one walk across 7.1 innings (83 pitches/57 strikes), while striking out seven. An impressive line, considering he was pitching at Coors Field and the number of long innings he had to sit on the bench for. He's lowered his MLB-low ERA to 1.29.

He also picked off two runners at first base, increasing his AL lead to six pickoffs this season.

-Ian Hamilton, who allowed eight runs over his last six appearances, was brought in to finish the game. The right-hander allowed two hits and struck out three batters over the 1.2 innings.

Game MVP: Max Fried

The entire Yankees offense could have been the MVP. But Fried not only mowed down the Rockies and got the team their first win in the series, he gave the bullpen a breather.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees finish off their three-game set at Coors Field on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 3:10 p.m.

RHP Will Warren (3-2, 4.05 ERA) gets the start for New York, and will be opposed by the Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (1-8, 6.34 ERA).

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Mets' Frankie Montas makes first rehab start with Single-A Brooklyn

In his first outing in the Mets organization since signing a two-year deal in the offseason, Frankie Montas pitched 1.1 innings for Single-A Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon.

Rehabbing from a right lat strain he suffered in spring training, the right-hander allowed two earned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one for the Cyclones. He threw 37 pitches (20 strikes) while on a 30-35 pitch count, the team announced on Friday.

Both of the runs allowed came in the first inning.

Montas walked the leadoff hitter (who stole second and third), but had a strikeout and flyout to put himself in position to get out of the inning. Instead, the 32-year-old gave up a single and a triple to put Brooklyn in an early 2-0 hole. A groundout put an end to the frame.

After walking the leadoff man again in the second, Montas got a groundout that ended his outing.

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Nola's recovery from ankle sprain taking a bit longer than expected

Nola's recovery from ankle sprain taking a bit longer than expected originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Aaron Nola’s right ankle sprain is not healing as quickly as the Phillies originally anticipated and it does not sound like he will throw a bullpen session this weekend at Sutter Health Park.

The team hoped to get Nola back on the mound for a ‘pen session before one of the games against the Athletics but Nola is still sore. Manager Rob Thomson said in Colorado earlier in the week that Nola was still experiencing tenderness when putting on his shoe.

“No bullpen today. He was still a little sore today. It’s day by day. We’ll see if he’s OK tomorrow,” Thomson said before the second of a three-game series.

Asked if Nola’s recovery was taking longer than he initially expected, Thomson said, “Originally, yeah. I thought by this weekend he’d be throwing a bullpen but he still feels it in there. There’s no sense in pushing it.”

Combine that with the fact that the mounds at the minor-league stadium the A’s are calling home from 2025-27 have been described as substandard by pitchers and it makes even less sense to push it. Zack Wheeler called the mound on the field and in the bullpen “terrible” after pitching 6⅔ scoreless innings Friday night and Jordan Romano also looked uncomfortable.

Nola (1-7, 6.16 ERA) was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 16 with the ankle sprain. He suffered the injury a week earlier and pitched through it for two starts before the Phillies shelved him. This stint on the injured list is his first in more than seven years.

Sosa day to day

Edmundo Sosa hurt his left wrist on a swing late in Friday’s win and was removed in the ninth inning for Bryson Stott. Sosa would have started Saturday vs. lefty Jeffrey Springs if not for the injury. Instead, Stott was in the lineup against a southpaw for the first time since April 8.

“I was planning on play Sosa,” Thomson said. “My intention was to try not to upset the apple cart here. But his wrist is bothering him a little bit.”

Sosa is 14-for-35 this season against lefties, hitting .400. Stott is 7-for-30 (.233).

“Stotty will play (Sunday) against the right-hander and then we’re off Monday,” Thomson said. “Hopefully we don’t need (Sosa) and he gets three days off.”

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Rangers SS Corey Seager takes another step in his recovery from a hamstring injury

CHICAGO — Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager faced live pitching Saturday in another step in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Seager could return to Texas’ lineup as soon as next week.

“It’s going well with him,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “So I could see him playing next weekend at home. I mean that’s how well he’s doing. Continue to get live BP when we get home on Monday. Could be even a little sooner, who knows? That’s how good he looks.”

Seager was activated from the injured list on May 3 after being sidelined by a right hamstring strain. He played in five games before he went back on the IL on May 13.

The 31-year-old Seager, who is in the fourth season of a 10-year, $325 million contract, is hitting .300 with six homers and 12 RBIs in 26 games this year.

Outfielder Evan Carter also worked out before Texas’ game at the Chicago White Sox. Carter is on the IL with a right quadriceps strain.

Carter is on a similar timeline as Seager, but Bochy said Carter is going to need a rehab stint in the minors before returning to the team.

“He’s running well. He’s taking swings. He’s doing everything now,” Bochy said. “So he’ll continue to do this and we’ll get his rehab going here real soon, within a week.”

The 22-year-old Carter is batting .182 with a homer and three RBIs in 11 games this season.

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Rangers SS Corey Seager takes another step in his recovery from a hamstring injury

CHICAGO — Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager faced live pitching Saturday in another step in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Seager could return to Texas’ lineup as soon as next week.

“It’s going well with him,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “So I could see him playing next weekend at home. I mean that’s how well he’s doing. Continue to get live BP when we get home on Monday. Could be even a little sooner, who knows? That’s how good he looks.”

Seager was activated from the injured list on May 3 after being sidelined by a right hamstring strain. He played in five games before he went back on the IL on May 13.

The 31-year-old Seager, who is in the fourth season of a 10-year, $325 million contract, is hitting .300 with six homers and 12 RBIs in 26 games this year.

Outfielder Evan Carter also worked out before Texas’ game at the Chicago White Sox. Carter is on the IL with a right quadriceps strain.

Carter is on a similar timeline as Seager, but Bochy said Carter is going to need a rehab stint in the minors before returning to the team.

“He’s running well. He’s taking swings. He’s doing everything now,” Bochy said. “So he’ll continue to do this and we’ll get his rehab going here real soon, within a week.”

The 22-year-old Carter is batting .182 with a homer and three RBIs in 11 games this season.

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Mets recall LHP Brandon Waddell, INF/OF Jared Young in series of roster moves

The Mets made a few moves ahead of Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The team announced they have recalled LHP Brandon Waddell, and utilityman Jared Young from Triple-A Syracuse. In corresponding moves, they have designated outfielder Jose Azocar and LHP Genesis Cabrera for assignment.

With the 13-inning game on Friday night, Waddell's call-up comes at a time when the Mets need a lift after using every arm in the pen. Waddell had made one appearance earlier this season, pitching 4.1 scoreless innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 30. It was the 30-year-old's first game in four years.

As for Young, he's batting seventh on Saturday in the DH spot. It'll be his first game in two years. With Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo day-to-day with separate ailments, the Mets could use the versatility that Young brings.

In Syracuse, Young was hitting .259 with five home runs across 22 games down in Triple-A.

Cabrera, 28, pitched two scoreless innings on Friday, allowing just one hit and striking out two. In six appearances this year with the Mets, he pitched to a 3.52 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.

Azocar pinch-ran for Pete Alonso in extra innings on Friday but has had limited playing time with the Mets this season. He was 5-for-18 with a stolen base in 12 games.

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Mets recall LHP Brandon Waddell, INF/OF Jared Young in series of roster moves

The Mets made a few moves ahead of Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The team announced they have recalled LHP Brandon Waddell, and utilityman Jared Young from Triple-A Syracuse. In corresponding moves, they have designated outfielder Jose Azocar and LHP Genesis Cabrera for assignment.

With the 13-inning game on Friday night, Waddell's call-up comes at a time when the Mets need a lift after using every arm in the pen. Waddell had made one appearance earlier this season, pitching 4.1 scoreless innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 30. It was the 30-year-old's first game in four years.

As for Young, he's batting seventh on Saturday in the DH spot. It'll be his first game in two years. With Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo day-to-day with separate ailments, the Mets could use the versatility that Young brings.

In Syracuse, Young was hitting .259 with five home runs across 22 games down in Triple-A.

Cabrera, 28, pitched two scoreless innings on Friday, allowing just one hit and striking out two. In six appearances this year with the Mets, he pitched to a 3.52 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.

Azocar pinch-ran for Pete Alonso in extra innings on Friday but has had limited playing time with the Mets this season. He was 5-for-18 with a stolen base in 12 games.

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Red Sox 3B Alex Bregman moves closer to possible IL stint, manager Alex Cora says

BOSTON — Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman could be nearing a trip to the injured list after leaving Friday’s game with right quadriceps tightness, manager Alex Cora said.

“He’s getting an MRI. He’s sore,” Cora said at Fenway Park on Saturday morning before Boston was set to face the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of a split doubleheader.

“We’ll see where he’s at,” Cora said before later adding that Bregman said it felt “worse” than he expected.

When ask if a stint on the IL could be coming, Cora said: “I don’t want to jump into conclusions, but yes.”

If Bregman does need to go to the IL, who will play third?

Cora said the plan is for the team to “mix and match” and answered “no” when asked if Rafael Devers could be in the immediate plans.

“There’s a lot of guys in the conversation,” Cora said. “Roster construction comes into play, guys in the minor leagues, how they fit the roster — all that stuff.”

Could Devers be in the mix at some point?

“We made a decision in the offseason and this is where we’re going,” Cora said, without completely closing the door. “There are a few things that we took into consideration and I think we’ve been very consistent with it.

“I’m not going react to the outside world because (they) think that’s the right move. Maybe it’s not, right? Maybe we’re doing it right? Maybe we’re doing it wrong?”

Earlier this month, Devers told the Red Sox he wasn’t moving to play first base. The DH has been red-hot lately after collecting a career-best eight RBIs in a lopsided victory over the Orioles on Friday afternoon.

“I know the guy. He’s raking. He’s the best DH in the American League right now,” Cora said. “If he keeps continuing to do this, he’s going to be in the All-Star Game as the DH and going to win a Silver Slugger as a DH. This is where we’re going. We’ll continue to talk. I’m not going to say we’re going to close the door.”

Boston already lost a corner infielder for the season when first baseman Triston Casas ruptured a tendon in his left knee and had season-ending surgery. The loss of Bregman could be a big blow to a lineup that’s struggled, at times.

“We’ll be OK. Obviously, he’s a big part of our offense,” Cora said. “Triston is a big part of our offense. We’ve just got to find a way to score runs in a different way and we’re prepared for that.”

Devers, the team’s third baseman for eight seasons, was moved to DH after Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million deal as a free agent and was given the job. Following a slow start at the plate, Devers has heated up and is batting .299 with 12 homers and 47 RBIs.

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Alex Bregman out with a significant quad strain as Red Sox call up top prospect Mayer

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox are getting ready to be without one of their most productive hitters for an extended period of time.

Third baseman Alex Bregman will be out with what manager Alex Cora called a significant right quad strain. The big free agent addition for the Red Sox left their game Friday with tightness in the quad.

Turns out it’s a similar injury to his left quad strain in 2021, one that cost him 58 games.

“Very similar to ’21,” Cora said after the Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-5 in 10 innings on Saturday.

Bregman agreed.

“Yeah, pretty severe right quad strain,” he said, speaking quietly in Boston’s clubhouse in the middle of a doubleheader. “Pretty similar to ‘21.

“But, it is what it is, and now I’ll try to take it day by day and approach rehab.”

Signed by the Red Sox as a free agent to a three-year, $120 million deal during the offseason, Bregman has been hitting .299 and has 11 homers and 35 RBIs.

To take his place on the roster, Boston promoted top infielder prospect Marcelo Mayer from Triple-A Worcester. It placed Bregman on the 10-day injured list.

“It feels good,” Mayer said before the doubleheader’s second game. “It’s something I worked for my whole life.”

Mayer, who was selected No. 4 overall in the 2021 amateur draft, is slated to make his major league debut at third — a position Cora says will be get a “mix and match” approach.

“There’s a lot of guys in the conversation,” he said. “Roster construction comes into play, guys in the minor leagues, how they fit the roster — all that stuff.”

Cora answered “no” when asked if Rafael Devers could be in the immediate plans, but he didn’t completely close the door.

“We made a decision in the offseason and this is where we’re going,” Cora said. “There are a few things that we took into consideration and I think we’ve been very consistent with it.

“I’m not going react to the outside world because (they) think that’s the right move. Maybe it’s not, right? Maybe we’re doing it right? Maybe we’re doing it wrong?”

Devers was the team’s third baseman for eight seasons and moved to designated hitter when Bregman was given the job. He told the Red Sox earlier this month he wasn’t moving to play first base, as he’s been red hot at the plate. Devers is batting .299 with 12 homers and 47 RBIs.

He collected a career-best eight RBIs in a lopsided victory over the Orioles on Friday.

“I know the guy. He’s raking. He’s the best DH in the American League right now,” Cora said. “If he keeps continuing to do this, he’s going to be in the All-Star Game as the DH and going to win a Silver Slugger as a DH. This is where we’re going. We’ll continue to talk. I’m not going to say we’re going to close the door.”

Boston already lost a corner infielder for the season when first baseman Triston Casas ruptured a tendon in his left knee and had season-ending surgery. The loss of Bregman could be a big blow to a lineup that’s struggled at times.

“We’ll be OK. Obviously, he’s a big part of our offense,” Cora said. “Triston is a big part of our offense. We’ve just got to find a way to score runs in a different way and we’re prepared for that.”

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Giants explain motivational reason for jersey switch vs. Nationals

Giants explain motivational reason for jersey switch vs. Nationals originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Giants took the field in unorthodox fashion for Saturday’s game against the Washington Nationals in America’s capital.

San Francisco sported its black jerseys which typically are reserved for Saturday home games at Oracle Park.

So what was the reason for the Giants bypassing their usual gray road jerseys in favor of a fit normally worn by McCovey Cove? Team unity, according to the Giants.

While the jersey change didn’t produce optimal results on the field in Saturday’s 3-0 loss to the Nationals, don’t expect the Giants to abandon their new road threads any time soon.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Harrison laments lone mistake in return to Giants' rotation vs. Nats

Harrison laments lone mistake in return to Giants' rotation vs. Nats originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

When Kyle Harrison missed out on the Giants’ final rotation spot in spring training earlier this year, the team remained confident there would be opportunities for him to start at the big league level in 2025.

With veteran pitcher Justin Verlander on the 15-day injured list, that chance came Saturday for Harrison against the Washington Nationals. The 23-year-old felt good about his outing in San Francisco’s 3-0 loss at Nationals Park, but he certainly wishes he could have one pitch back.

“Just proud of how I felt out there and how I responded,” Harrison told reporters after allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out four in four innings against Washington. “… Just that one mistake [then] felt like I settled in a little bit. Can’t make those mistakes.”

Harrison toed the rubber for his first Giants start of the season after a mild pectoral strain sidelined Verlander earlier this week, and Saturday got off to a rocky start when the young southpaw surrendered a one-out double to Nationals third baseman Amed Rosario in the first inning followed by a James Wood homer that put San Francisco into a 2-0 hole.

“Especially early, I was really just strike-focused, attacking those guys, and ultimately that ended in me leaving a little pitches over the plate too much,” Harrison said. “After that inning, looked at the locations and just had to get off the plate a little more because they were willing to swing and chase. As soon as I tapped into that a little bit more, got a little better.”

Unfortunately for Harrison, who cruised through the next three innings and said he felt like he could have pitched the fifth, the Giants’ lineup couldn’t get anything going against Washington righty Jake Irvin. The Nationals starter allowed just three hits and struck out seven Giants over eight frames in his team’s shutout win.

The Giants recalled Harrison from Triple-A Sacramento earlier this month after he posted a 3.46 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 26 innings over six starts with the River Cats. Even after originally missing out on a roster spot this season despite his role in the Giants’ rotation last year, Harrison stayed the course and put in the work in the minor leagues, filling a bullpen role nicely for San Francisco upon his return.

Though Harrison was fully stretched in the minors, he hadn’t thrown more than 38 pitches in an appearance during his time back with San Francisco and was limited to just 57 on Saturday. He threw 43 of those for strikes, however, generating a game-high eight swings-and-misses while topping out at 96.3 mph with his four-seam fastball.

“I thought he threw good,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said of Harrison after the game. “It was just one pitch to Wood, hung a breaking ball. Other than that, [velocity] was up, he was pretty efficient, actually, for his pitch count. Got four innings in, so could move a little bit further along after that. But all in all, it just came down to one pitch.

“When you don’t score any runs, it is what it is.”

The Giants dropped to 30-22 after the loss and are 2.5 games behind the Dodgers for first place in the NL West, with Los Angeles set to face the New York Mets on Saturday afternoon. With Verlander slated to miss at least one more start, Harrison certainly will look to improve upon his first of the season his next time out.

“Felt good to have a day dedicated to me and go out there, went about my business, got to get in the routine again,” Harrison said. “Good to be back, for sure.”

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Mayer gets the call: Red Sox promote top infield prospect to majors

Mayer gets the call: Red Sox promote top infield prospect to majors originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The next phase of the Boston Red Sox’ youth movement has begun.

The Red Sox are promoting top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer to the big-league club, the team confirmed Saturday. ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported Mayer’s call-up. Mayer is the No. 2 ranked prospect in the organization and the No. 8 prospect in the sport, per MLB Pipeline.

Boston selected Mayer with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. The Southern California native was the consensus No. 1 prospect in his draft class, but he slid to the Red Sox after the Pittsburgh Pirates picked catcher Henry Davis, and the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers opted for pitchers Jack Leiter and Jackson Jobe, respectively.

The 22-year-old has lived up to his lofty expectations, shining both at the plate and in the infield throughout his four-plus minor-league seasons. Through 43 games this season at Triple-A Worcester, Mayer slashed .271/.347/.471 with nine homers and a league-leading 43 RBI.

Injuries have been Mayer’s only issue since joining the organization. His 2023 season was cut short due to a nagging shoulder injury, and his 2024 campaign ended prematurely because of a lumbar strain.

If Mayer can stay healthy, he’ll bring plenty of upside to the Red Sox lineup as a highly-touted rookie. It’s unclear at this point whether he’ll play second base, or if veteran Trevor Story will hand over the keys to shortstop. Either way, Boston could use infield help after third baseman Alex Bregman injured his right quad on Friday.

“I feel good. I feel solid,” Mayer told NBC Sports Boston on Friday about playing second base. “Obviously, I’ve played shortstop my whole life, with a little bit of third and second base. But as far as comfortability, I feel really good over there.”

Mayer could make his MLB debut later Saturday when the Red Sox play Game 2 of their doubleheader with the Baltimore Orioles at 6:35 ET.

Check out NBC Sports Boston’s full conversation with Mayer on Friday in Worcester about switching positions, his mindset prior to promotion and more:

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Mayer gets the call: Red Sox promote top infield prospect to majors

Mayer gets the call: Red Sox promote top infield prospect to majors originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The next phase of the Boston Red Sox’ youth movement has begun.

The Red Sox are promoting top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer to the big-league club, the team confirmed Saturday. ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported Mayer’s call-up. Mayer is the No. 2 ranked prospect in the organization and the No. 8 prospect in the sport, per MLB Pipeline.

Boston selected Mayer with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. The Southern California native was the consensus No. 1 prospect in his draft class, but he slid to the Red Sox after the Pittsburgh Pirates picked catcher Henry Davis, and the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers opted for pitchers Jack Leiter and Jackson Jobe, respectively.

The 22-year-old has lived up to his lofty expectations, shining both at the plate and in the infield throughout his four-plus minor-league seasons. Through 43 games this season at Triple-A Worcester, Mayer slashed .271/.347/.471 with nine homers and a league-leading 43 RBI.

Injuries have been Mayer’s only issue since joining the organization. His 2023 season was cut short due to a nagging shoulder injury, and his 2024 campaign ended prematurely because of a lumbar strain.

If Mayer can stay healthy, he’ll bring plenty of upside to the Red Sox lineup as a highly-touted rookie. It’s unclear at this point whether he’ll play second base, or if veteran Trevor Story will hand over the keys to shortstop. Either way, Boston could use infield help after third baseman Alex Bregman injured his right quad on Friday.

“I feel good. I feel solid,” Mayer told NBC Sports Boston on Friday about playing second base. “Obviously, I’ve played shortstop my whole life, with a little bit of third and second base. But as far as comfortability, I feel really good over there.”

Mayer could make his MLB debut later Saturday when the Red Sox play Game 2 of their doubleheader with the Baltimore Orioles at 6:35 ET.

Check out NBC Sports Boston’s full conversation with Mayer on Friday in Worcester about switching positions, his mindset prior to promotion and more:

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Pirates ace Paul Skenes on idea Pittsburgh should trade him: ‘Anybody can play GM’

PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes didn’t hear Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington say that trading the reigning National League Rookie of the Year to give the last-place club an influx of much-needed position player talent is “ not at all part of the conversation.”

When someone relayed Cherington’s comments to him, the 22-year-old ace laughed.

“It doesn’t affect anything,” Skenes told The Associated Press late Friday night after the Pirates rallied for a 6-5, 10-inning win over Milwaukee. “Anybody can play GM.”

True, but it says something about where the Pirates are currently at — well out of playoff position before Memorial Day — that Cherington’s uncharacteristically blunt answer made headlines anyway..

Yet if Skenes, who celebrated his first anniversary in the majors two weeks ago, has learned anything during his rise to stardom over the last three years, it’s that noise is not the same as news.

“There’s no substance to just all that talk that you hear on social media and news outlets and stuff like that,” Skenes said.

It’s one of the many reasons he makes it a point to try and block all the noise out. Yes, Skenes understands that baseball is a business — he said as much after manager Derek Shelton was fired on May 8 — but he also knows his business at this point in his career is focused entirely on throwing a baseball, not worrying about who he’s throwing it for.

There could very well be a time when Skenes moves on, either by Pittsburgh’s choice or his own. That time, at least to Skenes, is not coming anytime soon.

Pittsburgh is last in the major leagues in runs with 157, and no high-profile position player prospect ready to walk into the home clubhouse at PNC Park as a big leaguer anytime soon.

“Ben’s job is to create a winning team and a winning organization,” Skenes said. “So, what it looks like to him (is up to him).”

Skenes added if the Pirates decided to make some sort of highly unusual move by trading one of the sport’s brightest young stars, even though he remains under team control for the rest of the decade and isn’t even eligible for arbitration until 2027, he wouldn’t take it personally.

“I don’t expect it to happen,” Skenes stressed. “(But Cherington) is going to look out for what’s best for the Pirates. If he feels (trading me) is the right way to go, then he feels that’s the right way to go. But you know, I have to pitch well, that’s the bottom line.”

Skenes has been every bit the generational talent Pittsburgh hoped it was getting when it selected him with the top pick in the 2023 draft.

The 6-foot-6 right-hander was a sensation from the moment he made his big-league debut last May and even as the team around him has scuffled — the Pirates tied a major-league record by going 26 straight games without scoring more than four runs, a streak that ended in a loss to the Brewers on Thursday — he has not.

Five days after throwing the first complete game of his career in a 1-0 loss to Philadelphia, Skenes kept the Brewers in check over six innings, giving up just one run on four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.

When he induced Sam Frelick into a grounder to second to finish the sixth, many in the crowd of 24,646 rose to their feet to salute him as he sauntered his way back to the dugout. He exited with a 2-1 lead, then watched from afar the struggling bullpen let it slip away. The Pirates, in an all-too-rare occurrence, fought back, rallying to tie it in the ninth on Oneil Cruz’s second home run, then winning it in the 10th when Adam Frazier raced home on a wild pitch.

Afterward, music blared and Skenes — who hasn’t won in a month despite having a 2.32 ERA across his five May starts — flashed a smile that was a mixture of happiness and relief.

“It’s nice to see us pull it out, which is something that we haven’t done as much to this point in the year,” he said. “Hopefully it’s a good sign.”

The Pirates sure could use some.

Skenes has been fully invested in the franchise since baseball commissioner Rob Manfred called his name in the amateur draft two years ago. He has embraced his role as one of baseball’s first Gen Z stars and has become comfortable being the face of the franchise, even if that franchise hasn’t won much of anything in 30-plus years.

The challenge of trying to help make the Pirates truly matter is something Skenes has eagerly accepted. He’s as invested in the city as he is in the team itself.

Asked if the outside speculation that the club should move on from him so quickly is disrespectful to the effort he’s made to be everything the Pirates have asked him to be, the former Air Force cadet shrugged.

“I don’t feel anything good or bad toward it,” he said.

Maybe because he realizes it’s simply not worth the energy. It hasn’t been the start to 2025 that anybody associated with the Pirates has wanted. Skenes believes there’s been a “little bit more fight” since Don Kelly took over as manager. He believes that he’s gaining more mastery over his ever-expanding arsenal. He believes he’s developing chemistry with catcher Henry Davis.

That’s a lot for a veteran to handle, let alone someone who doesn’t turn 23 until next week.

It’s why focusing on his long-term future — or what others are saying about it — is wasted energy.

Skenes was asked about what it’s been like to work with Davis, the top overall pick in the 2021 draft. His answer could have doubled for where Skenes finds himself in general as he tries to navigate the push-pull of stardom and all the trappings — both good and bad — that come with it.

“Just really got to keep doing what we’re doing,” he said, “continue learning and let everything take care of itself, I guess.”