‘It’s good’: Red Sox’ Alex Cora replies to Marcelo Mayer playing time request

Red Sox star prospect Marcelo Mayer thinks he did enough during spring training to earn a spot on Boston’s Opening Day roster.

Mayer appeared on WEEI’s Jones and Keefe show Friday before Triple-A Worcester’s season opener here at Polar Park. Host Adam Jones asked Mayer if he feels like he should be in the big leagues right now.

“Yeah,” Mayer told Jones and co-host Rich Keefe. “All that stuff isn’t up to me. But as a player and based on performance, I feel like I did earn a spot on that team. With that being said, things didn’t go my way and now I’m here. and I’m just going to get after it every single day. Keep doing what I’m doing.”

The 22-year-old Mayer batted .333 (12-for-36) with a .455 on-base percentage, .528 slugging percentage, .983 OPS, one homer, two triples, 11 RBIs, six runs, eight walks and 11 strikeouts in 20 Grapefruit League games.

Manager Alex Cora was asked about Mayer’s comment before Boston’s game against the Rangers on Friday at Globe Life Field.

“Roberto Alomar cried when he got sent down in 1988 and he became a Hall of Famer,” Cora said.

Cora said it’s the attitude he wants from a player.

“100 percent. Yeah,” Cora said.

Mayer played shortstop in Worcester’s opener but he’s expected to receive starts at second base and third base as well.

“It’s important for him to play third, play second,” Cora said, “And he played well. He played good defense in different positions. The swing is on point. We had a good conversation with him. Now, he didn’t cry (like Alomar). But yeah, I saw the interview.”

Baseball America ranks Mayer No. 15 on its Top 100 list.

“It’s good that he feels that way but he’s gotta be patient. That’s the way it works,” Cora said. “We’ve got some good players here. I think obviously balance means a lot to us offensively. And I think obviously Hammy (David Hamilton) and KC (Kristian Campbell) are going to do a good job. But like I said before with him, yeah, an injury away probably from being in the big leagues. But I think it’s the other way around. They’re gonna push us to make decisions.”

Cora described Mayer is “toolsy” and “very mature.”

He’s a good defender,” Cora said. “He cares about defense. He really does, which I love. It’s easy for him to play defense. Offensively, there’s a few things that we truly believe he needs to get better (at).”

Red Sox star prospect Marcelo Mayer thinks he did enough during spring training to earn a spot on Boston’s Opening Day roster.

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