Exciting news out of Boston! The Red Sox might have found their answer at second base, and it’s none other than 22-year-old prospect Kristian Campbell. As the team looks to solidify its infield, MLB insider reports suggest Campbell could be the perfect fit for the starting job. But what does that mean for Alex Bregman? Well, it likely shifts him over to third base. Does that move make sense?
Absolutely. Kristian Campbell is a young prospect, and he has shown his mettle, performing quite impressively in the spring training. As per Red Sox manager Alex Cora, Campbell will surely take an important place in the roster on Opening Day. The young infielder had a great performance in the Grapefruit League, where he showed his strong defense skills and his athletic prowess, catching the attention of the manager and other decision-makers. So what makes him special?
Kristian Campbell had delivered, as he had a 498 AB, .327 average, .439 OBP, .546 SLG, and posted 21 home runs as well. In addition to his impressive stats, Campbell made back-to-back starts playing on the second base position on both Friday and Saturday.
Now on March 22, MLB insider Buster Olney made a post on X, stating, “Kristian Campbell with a spectacular diving catch of a line drive, moving to his left. The presumption around Red Sox camp is that he will be their second baseman.” His diving catch shows his athletic skills and the way he moved to his left, it looks quite clear that the Red Sox are banking on his early value and putting him on the roster.
Kristian Campbell with a spectacular diving catch of a line drive, moving to his left. The presumption around Red Sox camp is that he will be their second basemen.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 22, 2025
Meanwhile, Alex Cora also feels the same; however, the management would still like to assess every option and monitor his performance for the next few days. Cora said, “I saw some underlying numbers. People like that, right? He’s trending in the right direction.” He even mentioned that last year it was Ceddanne Rafaela who chased pitches, and now Campbell is doing the same, but not at present. Furthermore, Campbell even posted a .174/.304/.283 slash line while hitting a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays, which is quite special. If Campbell manages to tick all the right boxes, he will surely be one of the new faces in the Red Sox’s lineup.
But there’s even a bigger problem for the Red Sox, as one of their players faces an uncertain future Why is it so?
A huge problem looms over the Red Sox due to an injury
While the Red Sox seem happy with the probable inclusion of Kristian Campbell in their roster, they have suffered a major blow. Masataka Yoshida has gotten injured, and the shoulder injury further complicates the contract for which he was signed.
Yoshida signed a five-year, $90 million contract with Boston and has been solid in his first two seasons, hitting .285 with a 111 OPS+ and just 133 strikeouts in 1,001 plate appearances. But now, after undergoing shoulder surgery, he’s been sidelined during training, putting his role in doubt.
To make matters worse, recent roster changes have only complicated Yoshida’s place on the team. With the BoSox acquiring a third baseman, the lineup shuffle has created a need for an offensive player who can take on designated hitter duties. And that’s where Yoshida’s biggest challenge lies—his defensive limitations make it harder for him to fit into the team’s evolving plans.
So, what lies ahead for him? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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