BOSTON — Red Sox rookie infielder Marcelo Mayer is in wait-and-see mode when it comes to the wrist injury that has sidelined him since July 24, but he’s doing everything possible to return by the end of the season.

Mayer is waiting to see how his right wrist responds to an anti-inflammatory injection he received Saturday. The injection usually takes about 72 hours to take full effect. That route, Mayer said Tuesday at Fenway Park, was taken in an effort to avoid season-ending surgery. He’s hopeful the course of action will allow a faster recovery.

“I could have done no shot and let it feel better from there. I could have done cortisone, another injection. Surgery was on the table,” Mayer said. “Obviously, I want to play and I want to get back on the field as soon as possible. We have a great team. All I want to do is play so obviously, we went the injection route. Hopefully, I’m good enough to play. If not, I know I gave it 100% to try to get back on the field.”

Since Mayer left a July 23 game in Philadelphia with the injury, details about specifics have been scarce. The team has called it a “right wrist sprain” but Mayer clarified Tuesday that the issue relates to his triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC), which connects the bones of the forearm to the bones of the wrist.

A source said it remains to be determined whether the injection can fix the issue and allow Mayer to avoid surgery, or if minor surgery remains inevitable. For now, Mayer’s priority is getting to a point where he feels comfortable enough to do baseball activities.

“TFCC is what I injured. Same thing that happened in ‘22,” Mayer said. “They would just go in there and do (arthroscopic) surgery if that was needed. I think the rehab would be two or three months. Nothing crazy.”

Mayer did conditioning drills on the field at Fenway a few hours before Tuesday’s game but is not yet throwing or swinging a bat. Once the immediate effects of the injection wear off, he’ll have a better sense of what’s next.

“I still need to go through all the strengthening stuff,” Mayer said. “Get range of motion back and work from there. I got it three days ago so it’s still a little sore from the injection.

“From when I was in Philly, 100% (it feels better),“ he added. ”It has definitely calmed down since then.”

Mayer, who was not wearing a wrist brace in an effort to increase mobility, was disappointed that he will miss this weekend’s series against the Padres at Petco Park. The San Diego native would have had a chance to play in his hometown for the first time as a big leaguer but will instead stay back in Boston as his team heads west.

“I need to stay here and do rehab and work hard to get my wrist back to a place where I can play,” he said. “Obviously, it sucks I’m not going to be going to San Diego. But I have business to take care of.”

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