{"id":42108,"date":"2025-03-18T00:56:26","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T00:56:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=42108"},"modified":"2025-03-18T00:56:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T00:56:26","slug":"boston-red-sox-prospect-helps-case-for-opening-day-roster-well-see-what-happens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=42108","title":{"rendered":"Boston Red Sox prospect helps case for Opening Day roster; \u2018We\u2019ll see what happens’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FORT MYERS, Fla. \u2014 Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell helped his case Monday as he continues to compete for the starting second base job with one week remaining in spring training.<\/p>\n

Campbell, who Baseball America ranks No. 4 on its Top 100 prospect list, made several impressive plays at second, including a couple of diving grabs, in Boston\u2019s 12-3 loss to the Orioles here at JetBlue Park. He also went 1-for-3 with a double, walk and two strikeouts.<\/p>\n

The 22-year-old is competing with David Hamilton and Vaughn Grissom for the starting job. He said he won\u2019t be treating this final week any differently.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been learning a lot this whole spring training,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cJust about baseball really. Just when it comes to infield, outfield, hitting. Just a little bit of everything. I\u2019ve been learning a lot. It\u2019s been good so far. I wouldn\u2019t really change anything. Just keep competing. Keep my head up. Keep staying positive throughout the rest of camp and we\u2019ll see what happens at the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

Manager Alex Cora had said pregame that he hasn\u2019t seen Campbell receive many chances at second base in games down here. That changed Monday when five groundballs and one lineout were hit Campbell\u2019s way. He fielded everything cleanly.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt did find me today,” Campbell said. \u201cThey have a lot of lefties in the lineup, for sure. I\u2019m happy I got some plays for me today.”<\/p>\n

Cora said Campbell will play second base again Tuesday when the Red Sox head to Tampa Bay to play the Yankees.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels like he\u2019s getting comfortable. Put a good swing and then the walk,\u201d Cora said. \u201cThat was good. But I think defensively, today was the first day I was able to see it. We talk about it, too. And (he) got a few chances. Even late in the game, it\u2019s 12-3 or whatever it was. And he made two nice plays. That tells you who he is and the defender he is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Campbell is just 6-for-36 (.167) with a .286 on-base percentage, two doubles, five runs, six walks and 15 strikeouts in 15 Grapefruit League games. But he does look a bit more comfortable recently with hits in five of his past seven games.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as we swing on the right ones, that\u2019s the most important thing,\u201d Cora said. \u201cThat\u2019s kind of like what he does. Yeah, he hits the ball hard and all that. But he dominates the strike zone. And at one point there, he was just swinging. And we want him to make sure he\u2019s still making good swing decisions. And when you do that over and over and over again, the results are going to come.”<\/p>\n

Campbell led all Red Sox minor leaguers with 55 extra-base hits (20 homers, 32 doubles and three triples) last year, his first full season of pro ball. He batted .330 with a .439 on-base percentage, .558 slugging percentage and .997 OPS in 115 games (517 plate appearances) between High-A Greenville (40 games), Double-A Portland (56 games) and Triple-A Worcester (19 games).<\/p>\n

\u201cHe got a good first step,\u201d Cora added about Campbell\u2019s defense. \u201cHe moves. But the routine play is important, turning double plays is important and he\u2019s been able to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n