On April 29, Red Sox rookie Kristian Campbell, the first in a heralded group of prospects to get a spot in the big leagues, went 2-for-4 against the Blue Jays, launching a home run and a double in a spurt that pushed his batting average to an impressive .313 through his first month in Boston. At .935, he had one of the best OPS of all American League infielders.
Things have not gone so well in the seven weeks since. Campbell has hit just .157 in his last 38 games with an OPS of just .462. He has bounced from second base, to some stints in the outfield and was expected to begin taking reps as a first baseman, too, though he had never played the position before in his career.
Campbell had been working on learning first for weeks, and was expected to start at the position two weeks ago, but the plan was scuppered. The fact that he has cratered at the plate seems to have the Red Sox worried that they’ve asked too much of Campbell too soon. So the team announced a change, at least for Wednesday’s game.
Campbell is returning to the outfield, playing center field against the Mariners, the team announced. Regular center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela will get the day off.
Red Sox Need to Get Campbell Restarted
There’s some hope that perhaps the Red Sox and Campbell can get things restarted here as his struggles have dragged on. Campbell took some strays in the wake of the trade of Rafael Devers, with a reported suggestion that there was tension between Devers and Campbell because, after Devers declined the Red Sox’s request that he play first base, Campbell eagerly volunteered to make the move.
“Kristian Campbell didn’t ask to play first base,” Cora told reporters on Tuesday, in a chat with reporters. “I talked to him about it and he was willing to try it.”
Asked about Campbell-Devers tension, Cora said he had not heard anything about it until a media report mentioned it.
Campbell has been willing to take whatever marching orders the Red Sox have given him, including this season when he was slotted to play at second base despite having not done so since he was in college. But clearly, he needs to get his bat back on track before anything else.
Struggling Red Sox Rookie Gets Another Position Change on Wednesday