Red Sox prospect Marcelo Mayer’s MLB debut came with self-inflicted transportation snafu

Marcelo Mayer made his much-anticipated MLB debut with the Red Sox on Saturday, but there was one small hitch for the infielder.

Mayer’s car keys were missing and he needed to get a lift to Fenway Park from Worcester, home of the Red Sox’s Triple-A affiliate.

Called up to replace Alex Bregman, who was placed on the 10-day IL with a strained right quad, Mayer was called up for the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Orioles and was in Worcester, set to face Durham. 

But Mayer, considered to be Boston’s second-ranked prospect, said he misplaced the keys to his car.

“I lost them about three weeks ago and never cared to look for them until I needed to,” Mayer said in the Red Sox clubhouse.

According to Mayer, who spoke with MLB.com, among others, a clubhouse attendant drove him to Boston, which is about 45 minutes away from Worcester.

Once he got to Fenway, the 22-year-old started at third base and went 0-for-4 in a 2-1 loss to Baltimore. Mayer went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored on Sunday.

The fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft by the Red Sox, Mayer got an ovation from the Boston crowd, who have been awaiting his arrival.

“It was awesome,” Mayer said of the reaction. “I’ve never experienced anything like that before in my life. I actually just got done texting my friends and parents about that moment. That’s something I’ll remember the rest of my life.”

The trip to Fenway included some traffic, which was hardly a surprise.

“You know how Boston is with traffic, especially during a game,’’ Mayer said.

And he took advantage of having free time on his way to his debut.

“I used it as a reason to kind of chill and answer all my family and all my friends,” said Mayer, adding his first message was to his father.

He was back in the lineup Sunday against the Orioles.