BOSTON — Rafael Devers had the opportunity to return to Fenway Park for the first time in more than a year on Friday, but Marcelo Mayer’s homecoming didn’t come to fruition.
The Giants announced on Friday that Mayer, who is currently recovering from a stress reaction in his left forearm, is also dealing with a right foot bone bruise from a previous injury.
Mayer’s foot has been sore for the last four to five days since he began his rehab assignment on Aug. 13, prompting an MRI and CT scan that revealed the bone bruise. He will rest this weekend, then be re-evaluated by the Giants’ team doctors next week.
“I think he wanted to play here, but that was more his ambition,” said manager Tony Vitello. “I don’t think it was ever kind of on the calendar for us. You don’t ever want to cut anything too short or set your sights too far down the road. In order to make the progression he needed to, I think it was a little unrealistic.”
Mayer, 23, has yet to make his debut since being acquired for lefty reliever Erik Miller and minor-league outfielder Carlos Gutierrez at the trade deadline. In four games with Triple-A Sacramento, Mayer is 6-for-17 with a home run. He hasn’t played in the majors since June 25.
The former top prospect has played three games at second base and one at third base with the River Cats, and Vitello said it would be ideal for Mayer to “settle in at one spot.” Mayer didn’t have that opportunity in the majors, spending chunks of time at second (53 games), third (39) and shortstop (26).
“The personnel circumstances, like Casey [Schmitt’s] case may not dictate that, but to settle in at one spot and master it the way [Luis Arraez] did would be pretty fun to watch,” Vitello said.
Along with Mayer, the Giants announced that left-handed reliever Matt Gage (left elbow strain) and catcher/utilityman Jesús Rodríguez (right elbow neuritis) are scheduled to begin rehab assignments this weekend.
Right-handed reliever Joel Peguero (left hamstring strain) will be shut down for the rest of the year due to a recurring hamstring strain that’s bothered him since spring training.