Red Sox Prospect Explains Mindset With MLB Call-Up On Horizon
Kristian Campbell is inching closer to his long-awaited call-up to the Boston Red Sox, and the 22-year-old isn’t planning on making any major changes.
Campbell put together a breakout season in Boston’s farm system last year and earned a promotion from High-A Salem to Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester. That put Campbell on the map and skyrocketed his prospect hype and seized the infielder/outfielder’s Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year honor in September.
With Fenway Park slated to call Campbell’s name sooner rather than later, he’s maintaining last season’s approach heading into 2025.
“I feel like I always have the same mindset to compete no matter where I’m at,” Campbell told WBZ’s Joe Weil at Fenway Park Tuesday. “That’s one of my favorite things to do is to compete, no matter what I do or where I’m at. So I just try to take that going into spring training — wanting to compete, wanting to learn, wanting to get better and have an energy every day when I step on the field.”
Campbell hit .330/.439/.558 with 20 home runs, 32 doubles and 77 RBIs while also notching 24 stolen bases and a MiLB-best 180 WRC+, beating out 1,312 qualified players with a minimum of 250 plate appearances. Immediately, Campbell catapulted from a little-known prospect to a household name in Boston’s minor league system, ranking No. 10 among all in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, and No. 3 among all Red Sox prospects.
Just when it seemed as though Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kyle Teel — before being traded to the Chicago White Sox — were the trio to look out for, Campbell added himself to the crew in a matter of 115 games.
The Red Sox could promote Campbell this upcoming season with the team set in every infield position except for second base. But until then, Campbell remains at work during the organization’s Rookie Development Camp, joining Anthony, Mayer, Hunter Dobbins, Jhostynxon Garcia, Carlos Narvaez and David Sandlin.
“It’s been super fun,” Campbell said, per WBZ. “Getting to meet a lot of coaches, a lot of staff and everybody. It’s been a super good opportunity to work out in front of them and practice in front of them, especially with this group of guys right here. They’re really excited and the players are really good people so it’s been a really good opportunity so far.”
Boston chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and the team’s front office have emphasized a focus on improving the pitching staff this offseason. They’ve added Justin Wilson and Aroldis Chapman to the bullpen and Garrett Crochet, Patrick Sandoval and Walker Buehler to the starting rotation. So, pending any further notable transactions, the door could be open for Campbell to make a run at a roster spot come spring training.
Campbell recorded a .908 fielding percentage across 310 1/3 innings at second base, committing just three errors in 103 defensive chances.
Pitchers and catchers will begin reporting to Fort Myers, Fla. in less than five weeks.