Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell collects first hit of the spring
Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell came into Monday afternoon’s game against the Orioles hitless this spring.
It took 13 at-bats, but Campbell finally broke through, recording his first hit in Grapefruit League play, finishing 1-for-3, in the Red Sox and Orioles 6-6 tie.
The 22-year-old came into camp with a legitimate shot to win the starting second base job, but with three weeks left before Opening Day, Campbell is starting to see more time in the outfield.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora gave some advice to the young prospect to help him try and turn things around at the plate.
“He’s been working hard. He’s been grinding. I think the good thing is we have a pretty good idea of what he needs (to do),” Cora told reporters. “We talked to him, and he said, ‘Just got to swing.’ (We were like), ‘No, it’s the other way around. You’ve got to swing less.’ He’s been swinging a lot, as far as the games. He’s been chasing. The 0-for-4 in (Clearwater), the last two strikeouts were pitches off the plate, and he doesn’t do that. Just dominate the strike zone and put some good swings.”
Campbell, who is one of the Red Sox “Big 3” prospects, grounded out in the first inning on the first pitch he saw from veteran right-hander Charlie Morton. In his second at-bat, he came out swinging, connecting on the first pitch from Tomoyuki Sugano, lacing a single into right field. He would strike out in his final at-bat.
The Georgia Tech alum saw a meteoric rise through the Red Sox system this season, hitting .330/.439/.558 with 20 homers and 24 steals in 115 games among High A Greenville, Double-A Portland, and Triple-A Worcester.
Campbell is currently ranked as the No. 2 prospect by MiLB.com in their newest rankings of 2025.
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