Red Sox optioning rookie Kristian Campbell to Triple A

New York Times

5 hours ago

Four days after the stunning trade of slugger Rafael Devers, the Boston Red Sox are optioning infielder Kristian Campbell to Triple A, according to a league source. Campbell, who earned the American League's Rookie of the Month for March/April, has struggled since the start of May and is batting only .223/.319/.345 on the season.
Advertisement
Campbell, 22, signed an eight-year, $60 million contract extension days after making the Opening Day roster. He was coming off a breakout 2024 season during which he earned Minor League Player of the Year from several publications, including The Athletic. Campbell, the 132nd pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Georgia Tech, rose three levels last season from High A to Triple A, hitting .330/.439/.558 with 20 home runs and 24 stolen bases in 115 games while showing his defensive versatility by playing second base, shortstop, third base and centerfield. He was ranked the No. 9 prospect in baseball by The Athletic's Keith Law at the start of the season.
With the second base position open at the start of spring, Campbell was a leading candidate to make the team out of spring training but he initially struggled before a mid-spring conversation with veteran Trevor Story helped him get back on track. He made his major-league debut on Opening Day in Texas, going 1-for-3 with a walk. Campbell was hot to start the season and had a .902 OPS at the end of April, earning him the AL Rookie of the Month award for March/April. He missed a few games at the start of May with what was described as right rib discomfort. Since the start of May, he's hit only .159/.243/.222.
The Red Sox are off on Thursday and haven't announced the move officially. It isn't immediately clear who would replace him on the roster, though one option could be Masataka Yoshida, the left-handed hitting outfielder who is coming off of shoulder surgery that has prevented him from throwing. He has been able to swing and could slide into the designated hitter role now that Devers has been traded to the Giants.
The Red Sox have several options to take over at second base already on the roster, including Marcelo Mayer, another top prospect who made his debut in late May. A natural shortstop, Mayer has been playing third base but can also play second. Utility men Abraham Toro, David Hamilton and Romy Gonzalez all have MLB experience at second base. In the minors, the Red Sox have several other options to play second, including Nick Sogard and Vaughn Grissom.