Kristian Campbell will break camp with the Purple Sox, as KPRC 2’s Ari Alexander studies that the star prospect has been informed he shall be a part of Boston’s Opening Day roster. A corresponding transfer shall be made within the coming days to create room for Campbell on the 40-man roster.
Although Campbell’s Grapefruit League efficiency hasn’t been stellar, it was turning into more and more apparent in latest days that the Sox had been desirous to see what the 22-year-old can do on the large league stage. Vaughn Grissom was optioned to Triple-A just a few days in the past, leaving Campbell and David Hamilton because the remaining contenders for the second base job. Whereas the left-handed hitting Hamilton will get some motion towards right-handed pitching, the Purple Sox certainly goal for Campbell to get common taking part in time in his first run of motion within the Present.
It has been fairly an increase for Campbell, who was a fourth-round pick of Georgia Tech within the 2023 draft and flew considerably beneath the radar in prospect rankings. He began to draw consideration with some large numbers in his first yr of professional ball, after which gained even better discover by being promoted all the way in which up the ladder to Triple-A Worcester by the tip of 2024. Campbell hit .330/.439/.558 with 20 homers and 24 steals (in 32 makes an attempt) over 517 mixed plate appearances on the high-A, Double-A, and Triple-A ranges, together with a .898 OPS over his 85 PA with Worcester.
This spring, Campbell was ranked by Baseball America because the fourth-best prospect within the sport, and MLB Pipeline (seventh) and The Athletic’s Keith Regulation (ninth) had equally excessive reward. After his school days, Campbell made some modifications to his strategy on the plate that remodeled his hitting means, so this make-up and maturity has impressed evaluators alongside along with his apparent bodily expertise. Campbell has one thing of an uncommon swing that also generate numerous arduous contact to all fields, plus extra energy might nonetheless be unlocked. Campbell is a plus runner and he can play everywhere in the diamond, as he has seen time at second base, third base, shortstop, and all three outfield positions over his minor league profession.
He’ll verify in as Boston’s second baseman in his first journey to the majors, thus maybe filling a place that has been a revolving door at Fenway Park for the previous few seasons. Alex Bregman was initially tapped as the subsequent second baseman when he signed his three-year, $120MM cope with the Sox this winter, however it now seems to be like Bregman will play in his normal third base spot now that Rafael Devers (at the very least publicly) has okayed the concept of turning into a delegated hitter. As MassLive’s Chris Cotillo put it, “ the Purple Sox weren’t shifting Rafael Devers to DH for no cause,” so the writing was on the wall that the staff considered Campbell as a part of its optimum lineup.
With Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer additionally knocking on the door to the majors, the Purple Sox have an enviable group of star prospects on the way in which up. It stays to be seen if Campbell will stick at second base over the very long time, or if the Sox may reap the benefits of his versatility by attempting him out at just a few completely different positions.
As a result of Campbell made at the very least two of the top-100 prospect lists compiled by Baseball America, ESPN, and MLB Pipeline, he qualifies as a candidate for the Prospect Promotion Incentive. By beginning on the Opening Day roster and spending the complete season in Boston, Campbell would earn the Sox a bonus draft decide if he wins the Rookie of the Yr Award, or if he finishes within the high three in MVP voting in his first three seasons.
Photograph courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Photos
