BOSTON — The trip to Petco Park last August had been circled on Marcelo Mayer’s calendar. The former No. 4 overall pick out of Chula Vista’s Eastlake High School had gotten his call-up that May, had a two-homer game in June and had flashed throughout his first two months of the season.

He was sticking even if he wasn’t wowing.

Then his right wrist locked up during a swing. The ensuing stint on the injured list and season-ending surgery canceled the 23-year-old’s first trip to Petco Park as a professional.

“That was tough,” Mayer said Friday morning in the home clubhouse as he prepared for his first home opener at Fenway Park. “That was the only one that was penciled in my calendar. Obviously, just wanted to go home. Grew up going to that park. I love it there. I have so many family and friends that support me over there that it definitely would have been a great experience. But yeah, obviously it didn’t work out. It’s all in God’s hands. It definitely would have been fun, but I’m excited for today.”

Clearly.

The left-handed-hitting Mayer went on to double off the Green Monster in left field to lead to Boston’s first run and later homered off left-hander Wandy Peralta to punctuate Boston’s 5-2 win over his hometown Padres. Afterward, Mayer smiled while trying to dismiss the thought of getting something extra out of the connection to the team in town for his first home series of the season.

Marcelo mashes his first of the year! pic.twitter.com/A1fccULaPJ

— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 3, 2026

“At the end of the day, we’re just playing another big-league team, and we need to handle our business here,” Mayer said. “Obviously, I’d say the biggest thing was that it’s cool that I know everyone back home is watching, because a lot of my friends root for the Padres. A lot of family members root for (the) Padres. So I knew the community was back there watching, and then I’ve been getting good support from (back home).”

Mayer’s banner day came less than a week after making the opening-day roster after moving to the other side of the diamond in spring training. He signed for $6.67 million after the 2021 draft and played mostly shortstop in ascending as high as No. 10 in Baseball America’s top-100 prospect rankings, but the Red Sox had a shortstop in Trevor Story.

Mayer debuted last year as a third baseman. But Boston’s trade for Caleb Durbin opened a path for Mayer to win the job at second base this spring. He did enough in spring training (.695 OPS) for the Red Sox to make him Story’s double-play partner to start the year.

“So far, so good,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “They’ve turned a few double plays. The angles are different. He’s still learning and there’s a lot of teaching with him. …

“But overall pretty solid.”

Added Mayer: “It’s been a pretty good adjustment so far. Got a lot of reps in the spring this year, so I’m feeling more and more comfortable every day.”

The bat is coming along, too.

Which is to be expected, given his pedigree.

While injury troubles barred Mayer from ever playing a full minor league season — he had an .888 OPS while topping out at 91 games played in the low minors in 2022 — a 60-70 grade hit tool was the calling card that allowed him to continue climbing the ladder.

Mayer had nine homers and an .818 OPS at Triple-A Worcester at the time of his call-up last year, had four homers and a .674 OPS in the majors when his wrist injury ended his season and is 5-for-17 to start the year after doubling to left and scoring the first run of the season at Fenway and then homering just over the reach of a leaping Fernando Tatis Jr. in right on the first pitch he saw from Peralta in the sixth.

“It’s a long offseason,” Mayer said. “You dream about those moments just to feel that rush again and I’m happy I got it out of the way at home.”

Because the Padres alternate years for their trips to American League cities, Mayer’s return to Petco Park will have to wait another year.

That’s fine. He’s more than happy to revel in where he’s at right now.

“This place has so much history, the city of Boston is so special and the people here are so special,” Mayer said. “The fans push us. It’s one of the biggest sport cities in the world. They have four really good teams every year. Just to be, to be an athlete here, it’s a great honor.”