s rookie season is over. The youngster has been on the shelf due to a wrist sprain since late July, and now manager has told reporters (including ) that the infielder will undergo season-ending surgery on his ailing wrist. The surgery comes with a three-month recovery period, so hes expected to be ready for Spring Training 2026. Mayer, 22, entered the season as a consensus top-20 prospect in the sport. Selected fourth-overall by the Red Sox back in 2021, Mayers climb up the minor league ladder was stymied by injuries at times but he made both his Triple-A and big league debuts this year in spite of those obstacles. He hit a solid .271/.247/.472 in 43 games with Worcester this year but scuffled a bit in the majors, with a below-average .228/.272/.402 (79 wRC+) slash line and a 30.1% strikeout rate. He posted those numbers while splitting time between second and third base as well as shortstop at the big league level, with most of his work coming at the hot corner while was on the injured list earlier this year. Now that Mayers own 2025 campaign has come to an abrupt close due to his ailing wrist, its safe to say that the youngster didnt have the rookie campaign he and the Red Sox were surely hoping for. Thats hardly a surprise, Nick Avila Jersey of course. While some top talents (such as teammate ) immediately take to the big leagues, its become increasingly common for even the very best prospects in the game to struggle mightily early in their careers due to the growing skill gap between Triple-A and the majors. For Mayer, getting some of those growing pains out of the way this year can only be a good thing, and will hopefully leave him better equipped to impact the big league club in 2026. Fortunately for the Red Sox, theyve been able to do just fine without Mayer producing at a high level. Bregman (156 wRC+) earned his third career All-Star nod and has been a game changer for Bostons lineup at third base, while has bounced back from years of injury-marred campaigns to be a roughly average (98 wRC+) everyday shortstop. Thats solidified the left side of the clubs infield, and while the struggles of both Mayer and have made second base into a bit of a question mark, super utility man has settled in at the keystone admirably amid a decent offensive season of his own (97 wRC+). Fellow youngster Kristian Campbell is also available to help chip in at second base, though hes struggled after a hot start to the year and is currently getting regular reps at Triple-A. Looking ahead to next year, the Red Sox figure to have an embarra sment of riches on the positional side of things. Bregman seems increasingly likely to opt out of his contract and return to free agency, but even setting him aside the returns of Mayer and should give the team a full lineup on paper with both Campbell and Rafaela capable of moving between the infield and outfield as needed. Should Bregman opt into his deal or wind up getting re-signed or replaced in free agency, the Red Sox figure to have more players than positions to play them at between their solid regulars and unproven young players like Mayer and Campbell. Players like and have frequently been the subject of trade rumors over the years due to this impending logjam, and while no deals have come together to this point that figures to remain a storyline surrounding the club headed into the offseason. Austin Warren Jersey