SF Giants remain hopeful that former top prospect will return in 2026 after latest update

The SF Giants hope to get an evaluation on Marcelo Mayer before the end of the year, and that could still be in play. Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the former top prospect is out of a walking boot.

The Giants are hopeful that he can make his debut with the team soon. Mayer was in the middle of a rehab assignment before it was halted due to continued foot discomfort. Presumably, he will need another rehab assignment before he is ready to rejoin the major league club.

The Giants could also decide to skip that assignment, with rosters set to expand on September 1. Mayer appeared in four games with the Sacramento River Cats before being sidelined with the foot ailment and he has only been out for 10 days since then.

There is about four weeks left in the year, so there is a good chance the Giants want to use the remaining time to get a good read on Mayer. He came over in a deal that sent Erik Miller and outfield prospect Carlos Gutierrez to the Boston Red Sox.

SF Giants hope that Marcelo Mayer can prove that he can fill a role in 2027

Since being selected with the No. 4 pick in the 2021 draft, Mayer had been viewed as one of the top prospects in baseball. He ranked as high as the No. 9 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline before the 2023 season.

Across six minor league seasons, the left-handed bat has slashed .275/.361/.468 with an 11.7 percent walk rate, 23.3 percent strikeout rate, and a .193 ISO while often facing off against older competition. This includes an .835 OPS in parts of two seasons at Triple-A.

Mayer made his major league debut with the Red Sox in 2025. His major league career has been derailed by injuries, including a forearm injury that he was still recovering from at the time of the trade. Mayer recorded a .625 OPS in 364 plate appearances with Boston.

The 23-year-old bat displayed modest raw power, but the Giants will need to work to get that to play more in games. He often makes quality swing decisions. That said, there is room for improvement on bringing down his chase rate.

Mayer came up as a shortstop, but has experience all around the diamond. The Giants have openings all around the infield, so if he is healthy, they should have no problem at getting his name into the lineup.

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