How Red Sox Reportedly Feel About Top Prospect Making Opening Day Roster

There’s little doubt that Kristian Campbell will play in the big leagues sometime this season, assuming he stays healthy. But just how soon could the Red Sox’s No. 2 prospect make his debut?

Don’t be surprised if Campbell suits up on opening day when Boston visits the Texas Rangers.

“The Sox have said publicly that Campbell will get an opportunity to compete for the everyday job at second base,” Alex Speier of The Boston Globe wrote in a piece published last Saturday.

“Team officials seem increasingly comfortable with the idea of Campbell opening the season in the big leagues — whether at second, in the outfield, or as a versatile contributor.”

Campbell, 22, is one of the top prospects in all of baseball. The 2023 fourth-round pick is ranked fourth by Baseball America, seventh by MLB Pipeline, and ninth by The Athletic.

In 2024, Campbell hit .330 with 20 homers, 24 stolen bases and a .997 OPS in 115 games across three minor league levels. He finished the season in Triple-A, where he hit .286 with four homers in 19 games.

Campbell’s playing time and position could be tied to what Boston does during the rest of the offseason.

If the Red Sox sign Alex Bregman, they could move the star infielder to second base while moving Campbell to one of the corner outfield spots. However, if Boston instead trades for third baseman Nolan Arenado, Campbell likely would stay at second base.

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