Red Sox’s Marcelo Mayer Cracks Joke When Discussing Pinch Hitting On Opening Day originally appeared on NESN.
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The Boston Red Sox took down the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 on opening day, and Marcelo Mayer played a huge role.

Mayer did not start the game at second base. Alex Cora decided to start Isiah Kiner-Falefa against a left-handed starter, but Mayer came into the game to pinch-hit in the seventh inning. He hit a double off right-hander Pierce Johnson. Ceddanne Rafaela drove him in two batters later. Mayer spoke on his pinch-hit appearance after Thursday’s game and joked about how pinch hitting is rare in the minor leagues.

“Zero,” Mayer said when asked by reporters if he had a lot of experience pinch hitting in the minor leagues. “You guys know that, they don’t do that in the minors. I did a little bit last year. Obviously, I didn’t do it in the spring, but I knew that was going to be part of my role coming into this team.”

Mayer got another at-bat in the ninth inning and singled again. He came around to score again as well. He scored two of the Red Sox’s three runs and went 2-for-2 overall. Both of his hits came off right-handed pitching.

Mayer’s role early in the year seems to be coming off the bench against right-handed relievers and starting at second base against left-handed starters. However, he was one of the best prospects in the organization last year, and sooner or later, he will need an opportunity to play against lefties and prove he should be an everyday player.

Last season, he was 1-for-5 as a pinch hitter. He seemed confident pinch hitting on Thursday, and more pinch hitting opportunities could be coming his way.