The Boston Red Sox face an important decision regarding rising prospect Kristian Campbell this offseason.
Campbell made a splash in his major league debut, impressing during the first two months of the season. The 23-year-old performed so well to start the year that the Red Sox rewarded him with an eight-year, $60 million extension, according to Spotrac.
However, Campbell’s momentum slowed after April. He struggled at the plate and was eventually sent down to the minors following a prolonged slump.
Addressing Campbell’s future at the recent general managers meeting, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow discussed the organization’s 2026 plans for the young talent—potentially including a position change. As transcribed by MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, Breslow said:
> “That’s something we’re actively discussing. Even if that may not be the case long-term, perhaps in the short term, just giving him some stability and certainty to where he’s going to play and maybe easing some of the kind of mental demands on trying to play multiple positions at the same time. In terms of the position, that’s an ongoing conversation and some of it might be dictated by the roster construction as well as what we believe to be best for him.
> “Last year, he struggled in the big leagues at second base. If you think about where his athleticism may play in the short-term, I think in the outfield, he feels pretty comfortable as a chance to just kind of let the instincts take over. We saw a glimpse of what that upside could be in his 2024 season in totality, and then the first month of the season in 2025. It’s not a secret that he struggled after that and some of those struggles continued when he went down to Triple-A. But we still are incredibly optimistic and confident what that upside looks like.”
Campbell displayed flashes of potential during his time in Boston, but inconsistency ultimately led to his demotion. The Red Sox already feature a crowded outfield, making the idea of adding Campbell to the mix somewhat surprising. However, providing him with regular playing time could accelerate his development and help him fulfill his high ceiling.
As Boston weighs its options, Campbell’s future position and role remain key storylines to watch heading into the next season.
https://www.newsweek.com/craig-breslow-addresses-kristian-campbell-position-change-11054158