### Red Sox Rookie Marcelo Mayer Trades First Home Run Ball with Yankees Fan

In a delightful post-game interaction, Red Sox rookie Marcelo Mayer made a memorable trade with a young Yankees fan at Yankee Stadium on Friday. Mayer, 22, hit his inaugural big league home run during the game—a colossal 410-foot shot to the right-center field stands.

The young fan who caught the prized ball exchanged it with Mayer for an autographed bat and another baseball. Mayer expressed his gratitude for the heartfelt exchange, taking time to meet the fan outside the Red Sox clubhouse for photos.

Despite Mayer's milestone moment, the Red Sox were defeated 9-6 by the Yankees in their first rivalry clash of the season. Reflecting on the game, Mayer described hitting his first home run as a "good feeling," albeit tempered by the team's loss. "It kind of sucks when we're losing, but it's definitely a moment I'll remember for the rest of my life," he noted.

The monumental hit came off a 93.9 mph four-seam fastball from Yankees rookie starter Will Warren in the fifth inning. Mayer's solo shot rocketed off his bat with an exit velocity of 103.3 mph. Commenting on the experience of being booed by Yankees fans, Mayer brushed it off as "music to your ears," indicating his focus remained on the game.

Widely recognized for his potential, Baseball America ranks Mayer No. 8 in its Top 100 list. Since being promoted on May 24, Mayer has recorded a 7-for-34 (.206) batting performance, which includes a homer, two doubles, two RBIs, four runs, three walks, and 10 strikeouts.

The Red Sox found themselves down 7-0 after just two innings but began to rally when Mayer's home run put them on the scoreboard in the fifth. Manager Alex Cora acknowledged the rookie’s impact, stating, "We made a game out of it. He (Mayer) got us going. Put a good swing."

In what turned out to be a significant yet bittersweet game, Marcelo Mayer's first big league home run marks a milestone in his budding career.