The Boston Red Sox have entered Spring Training with a clustered roster. Manager Alex Cora has the unenviable task of sorting through all the team’s players and determining the best 26-man configuration to begin the season. One guy whose future with the team is a bit up in the air currently is outfielder Kristian Campbell.
After making his major league debut as a second baseman last year, Campbell struggled and has now reverted back to the outfield. The problem is that Boston’s outfield is already packed with star power as is, which means there isn’t an obvious fit for Campbell right now. However, with several of his teammates participating in the World Baseball Classic, Campbell has an opportunity to make his mark for the Red Sox back in Fort Myers, FL.
Kristian Campbell Could Benefit from the 2026 World Baseball Classic
Entering last season, Campbell was part of Boston’s “Big Three” prospects, which featured himself, Roman Anthony, and Marcelo Mayer. Campbell was the only one in this group to make the team’s Opening Day roster, and while he got off to a scorching hot start, pitchers quickly figured him out, and by June he had gotten himself sent back down to the minors.
This time around, whereas Anthony and Mayer are viewed as locks to make the roster, Campbell’s status is much more in flux. Not only did Campbell struggle at the plate, but he was a complete liability in the field at second base, which forced the Red Sox to move him back to the outfield, which is his preferred position.
With Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Jarren Duran leading the way in the outfield, though, there isn’t much room for Campbell in the majors currently. However, all of these guys are participating in the World Baseball Classic, which means that Campbell will find himself with quite a few opportunities on his plate over the next couple of weeks, as Ian Browne recently detailed for MLB.com.
“Campbell started in center field on Sunday and should be a near daily presence in the lineup while his outfield-mates are participating in international play,” Browne wrote. “Cora has said numerous times that if Campbell can regain the stroke that made him a top prospect in the game going into last season, the team can find at-bats for him. Boston’s outfield is left-handed-heavy, so Campbell’s right-handed bat could find its way to Fenway if things break right.”
Will Kristian Campbell Make the Red Sox Opening Day Roster?
GettyBoston Red Sox’s Kristian Campbell
With his position in the field sorted out, Campbell needs to focus on getting himself right at the plate. His unorthodox swing has made him a somewhat confusing prospect because while he is capable of tagging the ball when he makes contact, there are a lot of holes in his swing that pitchers can exploit.
It’s going to be up to Campbell to determine if he can put all the pieces of the puzzle together, and the only way to improve is by getting up to the plate and seeing if you can put together good at-bats. Campbell will have a great opportunity to do just that over the next few weeks, and how well he fares during his teammates’ absence could determine whether or not he begins the year in the majors.
Kristian Campbell Among Red Sox Players Set to Benefit From WBC