Kristian

Campbell

Campbell is expected to do drills at second and third with infield coach José Flores, but there’s no plan for game work at either position. It’d probably take an injury to an outfielder to give him any chance of making the Red Sox out of spring training, but it will be interesting to see what happens if returns to 2024 form in Triple-A.

Campbell is 6-for-28 with a 5/6 K/BB in eight games in Puerto Rico. The Red Sox have him focusing on the outfield, which wouldn’t seem to bode well for him making an impact early on next season. However, he probably has some work to do in Triple-A anyway after a rookie campaign in which he got off to a nice start but faded quickly.

Campbell struggled in his first taste of MLB action, but the former top-20 overall prospect has revamped his swing, simplifying his load and the jerky action of his arms. That and his adding muscle have the Red Sox betting on a bounce-back season. Campbell is now allegedly a full-time outfielder, and the Red Sox could trade Jarren Duran this offseason, which would open up a spot on the roster for Campbell in 2026.

It’s an encouraging development that the Red Sox are confident in the strides Campbell has made from a physical development standpoint this offseason after the front office attributed his struggles last season to unexpected weight loss. The 23-year-old former top prospect is expected to transition to a full-time outfield role moving forward and should get some extra reps this offseason in Puerto Rico before heading to spring training. He’s the type of post-hype prospect that fantasy managers should be monitoring closely in the coming months to determine whether the additional weight helps him re-discover his previous form that made him one of the most intriguing young hitters in the game.

The Red Sox had experimented with Campbell at both second base and first base this season, trying to find a way to get his bat in the lineup quickly by having him play a position of need. However, he struggled defensively at second base, and the constant position changes appear to have also impacted his offensive performance. The outfield is Campbell’s best position defensively, and the Red Sox could use his right-handed bat in a left-handed-heavy group. Of course, Campbell moving to the outfield full-time only pours more fuel on the fire of rumors that Jarren Duran will be traded this offseason.

Campbell is just 6'3" and 190 pounds, so he’s not a player who can afford to lose much weight, but he also has a “ferocious swing” that uses most of his body mass to create impactful contact. When his weight started to dip, his exit velocities also decreased. Abraham mentioned that a focus for Campbell this offseason is “getting back the strength that allowed him to impact the baseball the way he could.” Campbell is expected to head to Fort Myers, Florida soon, where he will begin an offseason training program focused on adding weight and gaining strength. He could be a post hype candidate in 2026 if the Red Sox can find a defensive home for him.

That’s not to say that the 23-year-old infielder won’t get another opportunity with the big league club in September, it just won’t be right away. He has been on a serious heater over the past month at Triple-A Worcester though and could provide a nice spark to the Red Sox’ lineup if given the chance.

Over his last 30 games at Triple-A, Campbell is hitting .331/.415/.525 with six home runs, 26 runs scored, and 22 RBI. It appears that the swing change the Red Sox were working on is starting to take. Interestingly, Campbell also played center field in this game, which is potentially setting him up to be a super utility option for Boston when rosters expand in September.

Even with his early struggles following his demotion to Triple-A, Campbell is hitting .280/.408/.411 in 40 games at Triple-A with five home runs, 21 RBI, and two steals. He has also been playing good defense at first base and should be an option for the Red Sox with Abraham Toro starting to go cold at the plate since July 1st.

It feels like only a matter of time before the Red Sox bring Campbell back for another shot in the majors since he appears to be driving the ball with authority to all fields again. The 23-year-old former top prospect crushed a no-doubter to left field during Sunday’s contest at Polar Park for his first big fly since July 29. There might not be an everyday role for him in Boston right away, but he’ll offer some appeal as a versatile bench option as they battle for a playoff spot over the final seven weeks.