This story was excerpted from Ian Browne’s Red Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Until he arrives in the Major Leagues, shortstop Marcelo Mayer will be the must-watch player in the Red Sox’s farm system. He is currently the No. 7 prospect in MLB per MLB Pipeline. In a recent conversation with Mayer, the shortstop talked with MLB.com about his goals and his interests, among other things. Here is a sampling.

MLB.com: Coming out of last year, your first full pro season, what did you take both positive and negative?

Mayer: With it being my first full season, I think I did well for the most part. The biggest thing for me was just being able to stay on the field. Obviously, I had a wrist injury and a back problem. I spent the offseason making sure my body was in the best shape possible, and I’ll need to maintain that all season.

MLB.com: Did you learn anything from the injuries, and how to prevent them going forward?

Mayer: For sure. You just have to know that all the little things matter. It's not just on the field stuff. Off the field stuff is super important. Being in the weight room, the training room, all that stuff plays a big factor in you being able to perform on the field.

MLB.com: Just listening to you talk about the injuries, it seems like you almost took it personally.

Mayer: Of course I did. I’m a baseball player. This is what I love to do, and when I’m not able to play, it hurts a little bit.

MLB.com: You’re already getting a reputation as a leader, and you’re only 20 years old. What does that mean to you?

Mayer: It means a lot. It's just the type of person I am. I love being around people. I love my teammates, and I love the staff here. And I speak Spanish and English, which obviously is a huge help, so I'm able to get along with all the Americans and the Latin [Americans] as well. Spanish is my first language. We speak Spanish in the house. My mom doesn’t speak English.

MLB.com: Was there a moment, maybe last year, where you were like, “I belong here?”

Mayer: I've always thought that. Every time I step on the field, the mentality is you’ve got to think you’re the best player on the field. You can't have any negative thoughts in your head because that's when things start to spiral. So I always take the field with a positive mindset.

MLB.com: What do you like to do during your downtime in sunny Southern California?

Mayer: I love being with my family, going to the beach and enjoying the San Diego weather. I grew up playing a lot of sports, so just being able to play soccer with my friends is great. I’m a super big beach guy. You’ll find me there a lot.

MLB.com: How about during the season? How do you unwind?

Mayer: Playing video games with my teammates. I also like to read.

MLB.com: What kind of stuff do you read?

Mayer: Things that help the brain. Like “Awaken The Giant Within” by Tony Robbins. Books that help your mental skills.

MLB.com: Are you a movie guy?

Mayer: I love sports movies. I love watching “Miracle.” “Major League” is a good movie. “Transformers,” also. I’m more of a show guy than a movie guy. I love “Entourage.” Everyone says I look like Vince. I had to find it and see what it was all about. During the season, I love watching shows. You have long days and you’re tired. Laying on your bed and watching shows is nice.

MLB.com: What about music?

Mayer: Honestly, I have a wide variety of music I like. Like I said, I speak two languages. I like rap, country, reggaeton and the Mexican in me loves mariachi. It just depends on the day, what I'm feeling like. My Spotify playlist is pretty big.

MLB.com: Have you been on any cool vacations lately?

Mayer: Growing up, it's like you play so much during the summer that you don't really have time to travel and stuff. This offseason, I went to Paris and Barcelona with two of my best friends. That’s some of the most fun I've ever had. It was a crazy experience and super fun, especially to go with two of your best friends.

MLB.com: Do you cook?

Mayer: Not as much as I should. You know, my mom is one of the best cooks ever. Everything she makes is super good. So I'm trying to reach her standards. You know what I'm saying? But she has been teaching me a few dishes.

MLB.com: What’s your favorite thing to eat?

Mayer: My favorite dish is boiled mole. I know it sounds weird. But it's chicken with a chocolate sauce, and with rice and beans. It’s a traditional Mexican dish.