Tuesday, July 01

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The fact that Kristian Campbell -- MLB Pipeline’s No. 7 prospect -- has put himself in the conversation for the starting second-base job with the Red Sox is remarkable when you consider the timeline of events.

At this time last year, he was barely even on Boston’s Top 30 Pipeline list, occupying the final spot.

It was less than two years ago the Red Sox selected the right-handed hitter out of Georgia Tech with a compensatory pick for losing Xander Bogaerts to the Padres in free agency.

Campbell started the 2024 season at High-A Salem, only to get promoted to Double-A Portland and then to Triple-A Worcester in what was the definition of a meteoric rise.

• Campbell named MiLB Hitter, Breakout Player of the Year

Campbell always had the athleticism. Last year, he added power, mashing 20 homers in 430 at-bats.

In many ways, Campbell is the player to watch this spring for the Red Sox.

If Campbell proves he’s ready to be the team’s everyday second baseman rather than going back to Triple-A, it could lead to prized free-agent acquisition Alex Bregman sticking at third base rather than moving to second and Rafael Devers shifting to DH.

The next few weeks will be a proving ground for a gifted athlete who has played every position in his pro career except for pitcher, catcher and first base.

To make the team, Campbell will have to show the Red Sox he is ready to make all the plays at second base.

“He’s learning,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “The turns are getting better, he has range, he has good hands, they’re working hard with him at second base.” 

In just one week, Campbell has already made a significant impression.

What has stood out most to Cora?

“His physicality,” Cora said. “Just the way he moves, too. It’s different. He's fast and he was standing in left field [recently] and he was shagging. He did a good job with that. Then he goes to second, and we're working on turns, turning the double play. Very smart kid. He gets it right away, makes adjustments on the fly, and then during live BP, he hit the ball hard and his swing decisions are really good.

“He dominates the strike zone and he puts on the brakes late, very similar to George Springer, kind of like, 'Go, go, go and stop.' And not too many guys can do that. Most of the time when you make a decision, you swing, and that's probably why he doesn't chase that much, so he's going to get a lot of bats. He's gonna get a chance, like, others. But that's what caught my attention.”

As painful as it was for the Red Sox to lose Bogaerts to free agency following the 2022 season, the reward was Campbell. Boston took him in the '23 Draft with the compensatory pick they received from the Padres for Bogaerts.

Instead of resting on his laurels after his breakout 2024 season, Campbell pushed even harder leading into ’25.

“He spent the entire offseason here in Fort Myers,” said Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham. “He's added good weight, he's added strength, he's added bat speed. He continues to improve on the defensive side with versatility and his ability in the dirt. So we're just really excited about where he is, and he's made good progress and continues to work hard.

“He’s incredibly athletic, he's strong, he's muscular, he moves well. So I think just the whole package [sets him apart]. He has size, he has the ability to move really well. He's fast, he's powerful. I think there's just a lot of different qualities that, when you bring them together, he just becomes an incredibly strong, well-rounded athlete.”

It remains to be seen how many positions Campbell will play in his time with the Red Sox, or which one he will settle into long term. But for now, second base is the focus.

“He’s quick, has good hands, soft hands and has a really strong, powerful, first step which really improves his range,” said Abraham. “So I think whenever you talk about an explosive athlete that still moves really well for his size, it's going to be somebody's who will get to a lot of baseballs, and you need that type of ability up the middle.”

Devers isn’t the first player to react with emotion when the topic of switching positions came up. In Spring Training of 1997, John Valentin walked out of camp for a couple of days to clear his head when a hotshot prospect named Nomar Garciaparra was announced as the starting shortstop.

As upset as he was initially, Valentin -- who roved between second base and third base -- bounced back to lead the American League with 47 doubles in 1997 while posting an .871 OPS. Meanwhile, Garciaparra was the AL Rookie of the Year.

It isn’t even a sure thing that Devers will be moved off third. But it will be an intriguing subplot to follow in the coming days and weeks. And if he does get moved to DH, Devers -- much like Valentin in 1997 -- will probably be fine once he has some time to process the situation.

If you can’t get to Fort Myers this spring, fear not: There will be plenty of opportunities to watch the Red Sox on television and listen to games on the radio.

NESN will carry 23 of the Red Sox’s 35 exhibition games on NESN and NESN+. All games airing on NESN and NESN+ are available to stream in New England on the NESN 360 app via direct subscription or authentication with a TV provider.

Additionally, ESPN will broadcast the Red Sox game against the Baltimore Orioles on March 3. The WEEI Red Sox Radio Network will carry 31 Spring Training games, with 16 games broadcast on WEEI 850 AM and 15 games on WEEI 93.7 FM.

Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener on the road against the Rays will be on NESN, as will Monday’s home game against the Yankees.

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