The Boston Red Sox never found a replacement for Dustin Pedroia after his time as an everyday second baseman came to a premature end in 2017 after a grueling knee injury.
Boston has had quite the rotating cast in seasons since then and managed to get by despite the hole in seasons such as 2018 (World Series championship) and 2021 (ALCS appearance). Nonetheless, with a new core on the horizon and a window of contention set to open as early as 2025, the Red Sox have to finally find a mainstay at second base.
They may just have that one step away from the majors.
Boston's next core centers around the "Big Three" prospect trio of shortstop Marcelo Mayer, outfielder Roman Anthony and catcher Kyle Teel. That hype is rightfully earned, but another Red Sox prospect stole the show this season and may just be one of the most important pieces to the next core.
Kristian Campbell came to the Red Sox organization as a fourth-round selection out of Georgia Tech in the 2023 MLB Draft. Like Anthony in 2023, Campbell used this season to shatter expectations in the system and play at three different levels of the minor leagues.
Campbell performed well at High-A Greenville. He dominated in Double-A, winning Eastern League Player of the Month in June, and outplayed the "Big Three" in Portland while earning their highest praise. Campbell earned a promotion to Triple-A last week and picked up where he left off, slashing .345/.445/.690 for a 1.131 OPS and a trio of home runs.
His defensive versatility allows him to track balls in center field and hold down spots in the middle infield. He's everything the Red Sox could ask him to be at this stage of his career after a stellar rise through the system in 2024.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Red Sox lineup needs another impact right-handed bat and one that fits into the current defensive alignment with tons of young talent and the "Big Three" potentially in Boston by Opening Day.
The player that absolutely should start the season on the Opening Day roster for the Red Sox?
Campbell. Without a doubt.
So far in 2024, Red Sox second basemen rank last in baseball in batting average (.191), slugging percentage (.290), OPS (.535), 20th in home runs (10) and 28th in MLB in on-base percentage (.245).
The need to elevate Campbell becomes even clearer for the Red Sox when looking at the position in the span since the end of Pedroia's starting tenure.
Since April 1, 2018, Red Sox second basemen rank 22nd in batting average (.242), 26th in on-base percentage (.298), slugging percentage, 25th in slugging percentage (.371), 24th in OPS (.669) and 23rd in home runs (89).
In order to win consistently again, Boston needs production at this position. Campbell will give the franchise that at a high level and allow the front office, if they choose this direction, to devote more funds to pitching to compliment an influx of talented young position players.
Campbell powered his stock in 2024 while other candidates like Vaughn Grissom battled injuries and former first-round pick Nick Yorke found a new home in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Campbell showed more than enough at multiple levels this season. He's ready for the show and the Red Sox need him soon. Opening Day in 2025 seems like a great time to start that journey.
