Mayer placed on IL with bone stress reaction in left forearm

BOSTON – The Red Sox got hit with yet another injury in the infield on Friday: Shortstop Marcelo Mayer has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a bone stress reaction to the left ulna.

Mayer opened the season as the starting second baseman but moved to shortstop when Trevor Story was shut down with a sports hernia injury in mid-May.

Not only is Mayer down, but so too is Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who was placed on the IL earlier this week with the same injury. Kiner-Falefa likely would have been the leading choice to take over at shortstop with Mayer out.

With that option not on the table, the Sox recalled infielder Tsung-Che Cheng from Triple-A Worcester, and he got the start at shortstop for Friday’s game against the Yankees in his debut with Boston.

The left-handed-hitting Mayer, who has been dogged by various injuries starting with his Minor League career, grinded through this injury for weeks, hoping to avoid an IL stint.

How long has it been bothering him?

“I'd say approaching two months,” said Mayer. “It’s just been on and off. Some days have been worse than others. But yeah, pretty much just had a talk with the medical staff, with the doctors, they pretty much said to put a stop to it, or it could possibly get worse. So that’s the decision that we made.”

The earliest Story will be back is after the All-Star break. The timetable for Mayer is uncertain.

“I’m not too sure. Obviously, it's a bone injury, so I kind of just need to let it rest,” said Mayer. “I'm sure we're going to be testing it week to week, so hopefully not too long. I'm going to do everything in my power to come back and play, but I think I’ll just trust the medical staff on when that is.”

For the short term, Cheng and Andruw Monasterio will share time at shortstop. Nick Sogard, a utility player currently on the IL with a right oblique strain, could become another option within a couple of weeks.

Cheng, a left-handed hitter, made his Major League debut in 2025 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, appearing in three games. A native of Taiwan, he was claimed by Boston off waivers from the Washington Nationals on Feb. 6, 2026.

In 70 games and 228 plate appearances this season, Mayer has a batting line of .220/.282/.312 with three homers and 22 RBIs. His defense, aside from a crucial error that led to a loss earlier this week in Colorado, has been steady.

As the No. 4 pick in the 2021 Draft, the Red Sox thought Mayer could be a shortstop with some pop in his bat. Did this injury hinder him at the plate?

“I'm not too sure,” said Mayer. “Obviously, I'm not happy with the way I've been playing. I'm not going to make an excuse that it's been my forearm or anything else. I’m not really too sure.”

Did the injury happen on a specific play?

“I don't really recall it happening on one play,” said Mayer. “I just felt, over time, my forearm started to get tight, and then it kind of never went away."

At 33-46 entering Friday’s game, the Red Sox have performed well below expectations this season.

Continued injuries haven’t helped. Aside from all the ailments in the infield, outfielder Roman Anthony has been out since May 5 with a partially torn tendon in his right hand/wrist. Ace Garrett Crochet remains out with left shoulder inflammation and last pitched for the Sox on April 25.

“Yeah, we've taken some hits,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “Not just in the infield, but with Roman, and on the pitching side with Garrett. You guys have heard me say it before; it's maybe not this many injuries, but it’s part of the season. You just have to move on and have the next guy up to help us and go out and win a ballgame. You have to find a way to keep it rolling in the right direction.”