'Call it like a crash course on WooSox baseball': The Big 3 are going to school with WooSox

WORCESTER — When it comes to Triple-A baseball, the Big 3 are currently in the middle of a crash course.

On Tuesday, Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kyle Teel — the top three prospects in the Boston Red Sox organization — made their first public appearance at Polar Park following their recent promotions from Double-A Portland.

After a midday meeting with WooSox manager Chad Tracy, the prospects held a news conference with the media before Anthony and Teel (Mayer didn’t play) helped Worcester beat Lehigh Valley, 4-3.

So, would Tracy say the “kids” passed their first day of summer school or study hall?

“Yes, kind of like that,” Tracy said. “Just a crash course. Call it like a crash course on WooSox baseball.”

Teacher Tracy will hand out report cards at the end of the month.

All jokes aside, Anthony went 3 for 4 with a double and run in his Triple-A debut while making a few nice plays in center field. Not a bad showing for the No. 2 prospect in the Sox system and youngest member of the WooSox at 20 years old.

How would the professor rate Anthony’s first Polar Park performance?

“A-plus,” Tracy said. “Just the way he handled everything.”

Teel, on the other hand, went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts, but the 22-year-old catcher handled himself well behind the plate.

The third-ranked prospect in the Sox’ system went 3 for 3 (two as the catcher, one as a hitter) with the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System and operated the PitchCom (an electronic device that transmits pitch signals from the catcher to the pitcher) for the first time.

Plenty was on Teel’s plate for Day 1 in the Canal District.

“He took charge,” Tracy said. “It was pretty impressive to see him jump into it without any fear whatsoever. It was awesome.”

As for Mayer, the top-ranked prospect in the organization is currently working his way back from inflammation in his lower back.

The 21-year-old shortstop last played in a game for Portland on July 30 before being placed on the 7-day injured list a day later. Mayer was reinstated Saturday but didn’t play for the Sea Dogs over the weekend and didn’t suit up for the WooSox Tuesday or during their 2-1 win on Wednesday .

Therefore, Tracy’s grade on Mayer is incomplete.

But on Wednesday, the left-handed hitting Mayer took swings during batting practice — which signaled the next step in a hopeful return to the lineup.

“That means that he’s starting to pass some of the tests with the training staff (with) his back being in a good spot,” Tracy said. “We weren’t going to put him out there and graduate him to do an activity until that was good. So he’s clearing up for sure.”

“That’s as best as I’ve felt since (the last time I played),” Mayer added. “So, yeah, I’m excited.”

And with summer school now in session for the Big 3 in Worcester, their Triple-A teacher is eager to put them to the test.

Let the crash course commence.

“I told all three of the kids, this is finishing school now,” Tracy said. “... So we’ll teach them along the way and give them every little bit of advice we can.”

—Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 'Call it like a crash course on WooSox baseball': The Big 3 are going to school with WooSox