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Previously, I wrote about four potential names that could be called up once rosters expand to begin September. Little did I know that I’d bat .750 with three of the four names getting called up during the month of August. I noted at the bottom that Kristian Campbell was left off that list because even after the month-long tear he was on in Worcester at the time, I just couldn’t see the team bringing him up with no natural position to play after the team acquired Nathanial Lowe to play first and David Hamilton slotting in at second base. On top of that, there was a chance that Campbell could get back to the majors and fall flat on his face, again. That potential failure could have done a lot of long-term, and that’s something that the Red Sox should actively avoid.
So, correctly, the team opted for two other names to be called up instead: recently-signed catcher Ali Sanchez, and right-handed reliever Zack Kelly. Sure, those names aren’t striking fear into the hearts of the opponents, but it leaves some flexibility with the roster as Wilyer Abreu is preparing to return from his stint on the injured list. Campbell needs to spend the rest of the season with the WooSox to allow him to continue to rebuild his game on both sides of the ball with far less pressure than he would face with the big-league club.
If we look at Campbell’s numbers after his demotion, there’s not a ton there that suggests he would find his April footing should he be called back up. He’s currently slashing .265/.382/.412 with 30 RBIs, seven home runs, 32 walks, and 65 strikeouts in 57 against Triple-A arms. While it’s not bad, it doesn’t paint a picture of someone who is banging down the door to face big league pitching. There could be an argument to be made that him figuring it out at the major league level would be more beneficial—just look at how Roman Anthony has shined since his promotion in June—but that’s not a risk you take when you’re in the middle of a playoff hunt. He’s still young and having two less-than-stellar stints with the Sox could cause him to question if he can actually perform at the highest level. He seems like the type of player who could overcome that eventually, but there’s no reason to risk that situation when there are other members of the team that aren’t viewed as foundational pieces of the future of the team.
As it currently stands, Campbell also doesn’t have a natural position to play. David Hamilton is playing well at second, Nathanial Lowe and Romy Gonzalez are splitting time at first, and Trevor Story shouldn’t move off short for anyone not named Marcelo Mayer (who is now out for the season). The outfield is already too crowded, but with Anthony leaving Tuesday’s game with an oblique injury, there may be some movement there. One of the reasons it’s believed Campbell struggled so bad early in the season was because he had no true position on the field. He made appearances at second, left, and center while with the Red Sox, and he was preparing to play first base going into the road series at Atlanta before his demotion. Professional baseball is a hard enough sport to be successful in, and it has to be harder when you are shuffled around the field constantly. That’s not a knock on Alex Cora; the team needed Campbell to be that versatile, but for a rookie who just signed a life-changing extension, it made things even more difficult for him. Now, every spot he could play in is held by someone who has been more successful with the team. Keeping him at Worcester through the end of the season, unless there is another injury to a starter in the infield, will allow him to keep developing.
Expect Campbell to enter spring training in a competition for a spot on the diamond with the Boston Red Sox. His contract guarantees he will be a name considered no matter what, but it just doesn’t make sense to have him on the roster while the team is fighting for a playoff spot right now. Could he contribute? Probably, but not at a level that you can guarantee would be better than anyone currently on the 28-man roster. The best move here is to keep Campbell in the minors and give him a position to solely focus on for 2026. If he’s given a full offseason to work on one position, he should hold a tremendous advantage over anyone else he would be in competition with in spring training. Campbell is a good baseball player, and could be a star in this league, but the heat of a playoff chase isn’t the time for such a large question mark.
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