The Boston Red Sox have selected a high school shortstop with their highest amateur draft pick in nearly 55 years.The Red Sox drafted Marcelo Mayer, an 18-year-old out of Eastlake High School in California, with the 4th overall pick during the first round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft Sunday night.Mayer, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 188 pounds, is ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect among this year’s crop of draft-eligible players, according to MLB.com.The left-handed hitter batted .392 with 14 home runs, 45 runs batted in, 46 runs scored and 19 stolen bases during his senior season while leading Eastlake to a California Interscholastic Federation title.Mayer is committed to the University of Southern California, but is expected to sign with the Red Sox after being drafted in the top 5.“I did see it coming. I knew that they were high on me and I’m super blessed to be a part of their organization,” Mayer said shortly after he was drafted.The last time the Red Sox had a higher draft pick was in 1967, when they selected right-handed pitcher Mike Garman out of Idaho’s Caldwell High School with the No. 3 overall pick.Boston’s last top 10 draft pick came in 2015, when they selected outfielder Andrew Benintendi from the University of Arkansas. Benintendi was a member of the 2018 World Series championship team, but was traded to the Kansas City Royals in February.Other notable Red Sox top 10 draft picks include Massachusetts native Billy Conigliaro, the franchise’s first-ever draft pick at No. 5 in 1965, and 2004 World Series champion Trot Nixon, who was taken with the seventh overall pick in 1993.The Red Sox entered the draft with the 40th overall pick in the second round, the 75th overall pick in the third round and the 105th overall pick in the fourth round.The second round of the 2021 MLB draft will start at 1 p.m. Monday and will continue through the completion of Round 10. The draft concludes with Rounds 11-20 on Tuesday.
The Boston Red Sox have selected a high school shortstop with their highest amateur draft pick in nearly 55 years.
The Red Sox drafted Marcelo Mayer, an 18-year-old out of Eastlake High School in California, with the 4th overall pick during the first round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft Sunday night.
Mayer, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 188 pounds, is ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect among this year’s crop of draft-eligible players, according to MLB.com.
The left-handed hitter batted .392 with 14 home runs, 45 runs batted in, 46 runs scored and 19 stolen bases during his senior season while leading Eastlake to a California Interscholastic Federation title.
Mayer is committed to the University of Southern California, but is expected to sign with the Red Sox after being drafted in the top 5.
“I did see it coming. I knew that they were high on me and I’m super blessed to be a part of their organization,” Mayer said shortly after he was drafted.
The last time the Red Sox had a higher draft pick was in 1967, when they selected right-handed pitcher Mike Garman out of Idaho’s Caldwell High School with the No. 3 overall pick.
Boston’s last top 10 draft pick came in 2015, when they selected outfielder Andrew Benintendi from the University of Arkansas. Benintendi was a member of the 2018 World Series championship team, but was traded to the Kansas City Royals in February.
Other notable Red Sox top 10 draft picks include Massachusetts native Billy Conigliaro, the franchise’s first-ever draft pick at No. 5 in 1965, and 2004 World Series champion Trot Nixon, who was taken with the seventh overall pick in 1993.
The Red Sox entered the draft with the 40th overall pick in the second round, the 75th overall pick in the third round and the 105th overall pick in the fourth round.
The second round of the 2021 MLB draft will start at 1 p.m. Monday and will continue through the completion of Round 10. The draft concludes with Rounds 11-20 on Tuesday.
