Can Top Prospects Roman Anthony & Kristian Campbell Crack The Red Sox Opening Day Roster?

Since the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams have been motivated to start their top prospects in the big leagues. Players rated in the top 100 lists for Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and ESPN can earn their team a Prospect Promotion Incentive pick if called up within the season's first two weeks and accrue a full-service year (172 days).

The players can earn their team a pick at the end of the first round by winning their league's Rookie of the Year Award or finishing in the top three of the MVP or Cy Young Award in his first three service years.

What does this mean for Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell?

Kristian Campbell
The Boston Red Sox's #2 prospect, Campbell, looks to have a more straightforward path to making the Opening Day roster of the two players, as he has flexibility regarding his positions. Over his college and minor-league career, he has played second base, shortstop, and the outfield. There was a path to being the Red Sox's starting second baseman at the beginning of spring training, but the Alex Bregman signing has muddied that view. However, Rafael Devers has not made his spring training debut because he is still recovering from two offseason shoulder surgeries.

This delay in Devers's work could mean he starts the season in the designated hitter spot, meaning Bregman takes over at third base, leaving second base open for Campbell. This lineup configuration only works if the likely designated hitter, Masataka Yoshida, on the 15-day injured list, is not fully healthy for Opening Day.

Devers has stated that he is playing third base, so it will be interesting to see how Manager Alex Cora decides to arrange his lineup when Devers is healthy, especially if Campbell can start the season off hot.

The Red Sox cannot ignore Campbell's minor-league production. Over two minor-league seasons, he has hit .327/.439/.558 with 22 home runs, 82 runs batted in, and 27 stolen bases. His slow start to spring training is not helping his case to make the big leagues, as he is only 1-for-15 at the plate with nine strikeouts. Unless Campbell turns his hitting around this spring, the struggles could be a reason to have him start the season off in Triple-A Worchester, at least for a few weeks.

Roman Anthony
Anthony is considered by many as the top prospect in all of baseball. He is ranked second behind Roki Sasaki in MLB.com's Top 100 list. However, his path to playing in Fenway Park is less clear than the more-flexible Campbell.

The Red Sox have five outfielders on their projected 25-man roster: Jarren Duran, Yoshida, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Rob Refsnyder. This logjam complicates an opening for Anthony, although Yoshida and Abreu are questionable for Opening Day. If one or both are out, then Anthony could fill the void.

Like Campbell, Anthony offers five-tool production after hitting .284/.398/.498 with 32 home runs, 141 runs batted in, and 38 stolen bases over his three-year minor-league career. Plus, he is 4-for-13 in spring training with four runs batted in.

The Red Sox could use this power production to beef up their offense. Anthony, especially when hitting left-handed, can take advantage of Pesky's Pole in right field of Fenway Park.

If these two prospects cannot crack the Opening Day roster, the Red Sox will have a tough decision whether to try for a Player Promotion Incentive pick or keep them in the minors a little longer to ensure they do not exceed a full MLB service year and try for a pick next season. With both players projected to finish in the top three of the AL Rookie of the Year race, seeing how the Red Sox handle their best two prospects will be interesting.

Interested in learning more about the Boston Red Sox's top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!