Felger & Massarotti BONUS: Red Sox Prospects going in OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS - Breaking Balls with Tony Mazz
Mar 23, 2026
A debut segment examines why two top Red Sox prospects are trending in opposite directions. The conversation contrasts Marcelo Mayer's roster spot, defensive strengths and swing concerns with Kristian Campbell's rapid rise, swing changes and struggles with inside fastballs. It questions whether promotion pressure and organizational hype harmed Campbell's development.
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Mayer's Strike Zone Issues Are The Key Problem
- Marcelo Mayer's major concern is plate discipline, especially against off-speed and pitches on the outer part of the plate.
- Tony Massarotti highlights a specific at-bat vs a lefty where Mayer offered a non-competitive swing and missed a middle pitch badly.
Mental Approach May Limit Mayer More Than Tools
- The Red Sox worry Mayer may be entitled and not putting in enough work to adjust to MLB pitching.
- Massarotti points to mechanics and body language (hips turning early) in a slow-motion strikeout as evidence of mental lapse.
Monitor Mayer's Early Plate Discipline Closely
- Watch Mayer early in the season for how he handles off-speed and pitches away; that will determine his offensive value.
- If he doesn't improve, expect Cora to bench or demote him for focus-related failures.