Red Sox promote infielder Tsung-Che Cheng as Marcelo Mayer sits on the injured list

The Boston Red Sox have promoted infielder Tsung-Che Cheng to the major-league roster, using a roster spot created by Marcelo Mayer being placed on the injured list, according to Yahoo Sports. The move adds an infield option for a club that has leaned on depth in the middle of the lineup and in the infield as injuries have shaped availability.

Cheng, 24- or turning-25 next month, has spent his recent time working his way through the organization’s minor-league ladder. He is from Pingtung County, Taiwan, and gained additional attention on the global stage during the World Baseball Classic, where Yahoo Sports reported that he hit.333, walked five times, and stole four bases while not being caught.

That WBC performance was followed by another strong stretch in the Red Sox’ Triple-A system. The report says Cheng returned to Worcester, where he recorded the club’s first cycle since the organization’s relocation to Worcester, doing so in “short order” after reporting back. Cycles are uncommon at any level, and the timing suggested that his development was translating immediately once he rejoined the grind of a full league schedule.

In the same Worcester stretch, Yahoo Sports also describes Cheng as a consistent run-producer and on-base presence. The report cites a slash line of.254/.351/.424 with seven home runs, framing him as one of Worcester’s more stable contributors. For a parent club that values middle-infield versatility, that combination of extra-base pop and reliable getting on base is the profile Boston typically looks for when calling up a player to bridge a gap created by an IL move.

The timing of the promotion matters beyond the individual stat line, because Mayer’s status reshapes who is available to play specific infield roles day to day. While the details of Mayer’s injury and exact timetable are not included in the Yahoo report, the practical reality for the Red Sox is that a vacancy at the major-league level forces immediate decisions about lineup flexibility, defensive matchups, and how the club balances left-right batting considerations.

Cheng’s role with Boston will likely revolve around providing that flexibility. The organization can use an emerging infielder to add depth against starter-heavy stretches, to cover in-game defensive needs, and to keep regulars fresh when the schedule compresses. If his Triple-A approach continues, the Red Sox will be watching for whether he can maintain the plate-discipline component of his Worcester line while adjusting to major-league velocity and pitch selection.

For now, the key question is whether Cheng can turn minor-league momentum into major-league consistency. The reported WBC baserunning success and the Worcester cycle provide a storyline of capability, but the jump to MLB brings a different level of scouting, reaction time, and command. The next few starts and at-bats will indicate how Boston plans to deploy him, and whether this promotion becomes a short-term depth answer or the start of a longer look.