Alex Cora gives positive update on Boston Red Sox rookie Marcelo Mayer

HOUSTON — Injured Red Sox rookie Marcelo Mayer began baseball activities Monday, playing catch back in Boston.

That’s progress after Mayer had done nothing but work out since the Red Sox placed him on the 10-day injured list July 25 with a sprained wrist.

The 22-year-old infielder received an anti-inflammation injection Aug. 2, which usually takes 72 hours to take full effect. The plan was to see how he felt after three days. He finally felt well enough to begin baseball activities today, nine days after the shot.

Surgery has been an option, but Mayer is trying to push through it.

He has gone 29-for-127 (.228) with a .272 on-base percentage, .402 slugging percentage, four home runs, eight doubles, one triple, 10 RBIs, 20 runs, eight walks and 41 strikeouts in 44 games. He was 8-for-27 (.296) in nine games before landing on the IL.

Mayer played third base while Alex Bregman was on the injured list. Boston then began playing him at second base after Bregman returned.

With Mayer out, the Red Sox have been forced to use center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela more often at second. Rafaela started the last four games there but is back in center field Monday with Romy Gonzalez at second.