With the fourth pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, the Boston Red Sox selected shortstop Marcelo Mayer out of Eastlake High School.
Mayer was projected to be picked No. 1 overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the majority of recent mock drafts. The 18-year-old is a left-handed hitter who has often drawn comparisons to Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager. Mayer is regarded as a well-balanced prospect with no glaring weaknesses in his game.
In 2021 with Eastlake HS, Mayer hit .392 with 14 homers and 45 RBI in 34 games.
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SIGN UP HERE Here's an excerpt from MLB Pipeline's scouting report of Mayer:
He has average or above tools across the board, starting with a plus feel to hit from the left side of the plate. He has an advanced approach and knowledge of the strike zone to go with elite bat-to-ball skills and a pure stroke. Long and lean, there’s a lot of raw power for him to grow into, with some scouts seeing a Corey Seager-like offensive profile if it all comes together.
While not a burner -- some scouts have a tick above-average run grades, some have fringy ones -- no one doubts Mayer will be able to stay at shortstop for a long time. He has easy actions, plus hands and footwork and an arm that plays plus. All of it plays up because of his instincts and aptitude, in a Brandon Crawford kind of way. He’s committed to Southern Cal, but as a potential first-round pick, the odds of him setting foot on campus are slim.
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Catcher Henry Davis (Louisville), right-hander Jack Leiter (Vanderbilt) and right-hander Jackson Jobe (Heritage Hall HS) were taken with the top three picks by the Pirates, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers respectively.
