WORCESTER — In less than two years since being selected by the Red Sox from Georgia Tech, Kristian Campbell has ascended to the major leagues. Ranked as MLB.com’s No. 7 prospect, Campbell has showcased his natural talent against minor-league pitchers since joining Boston’s farm system.
However, the 22-year-old infielder now faces a significant adjustment period as he enters the major league stage.
“When we arrived at the hotel in Mexico, he inquired about his roommate,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora shared with reporters during NESN’s pregame coverage. “Yesterday, during stretching, everyone was asking, ‘Who’s your roommate?’
I met with him last night to discuss his routine and what to anticipate. I told him things like, ‘The bus leaves at 1:00, so get there by 12:50.’ And then I mentioned, ‘By the way, there are no roommates in the majors.’ He was surprised, ‘Oh, really?’”
The perks that Campbell and the rest of Boston’s 26-man roster enjoy are not yet available to many of his former teammates in Triple-A Worcester. Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, the other two members of Boston’s renowned “Big Three” prospects, will not commence the new baseball season with Campbell in the majors. Nevertheless, Campbell’s promotion has served as a source of motivation for Anthony, who is thrilled to see his friend achieve his MLB aspirations.
“Both Marcelo and I got chills,” Anthony remarked on Thursday at WooSox Media Day regarding Campbell’s rise. “It wasn’t unexpected. He’s hardworking, showed up every day in spring training, and did what he needed to do. I’m thrilled for him.”
As Anthony and Mayer gear up for their own season opener on Friday in Worcester, Campbell’s debut with Boston — achieved after only 19 games in Triple-A last summer — was prominently featured at Polar Park. “We’ll still be here,” Mayer noted of Worcester’s on-field practice on Thursday. “So you can bet all the TVs [in Worcester’s clubhouse] will be tuned in to watch the game.”
Indeed, Polar Park’s left-field video board broadcasted Campbell’s major league debut against the Rangers, showcasing the composed prospect going 1-for-3 at the plate, with a single and a walk, during Boston’s 5-2 season-opening win.
Campbell seized the opportunity in his first game with the Red Sox, securing his initial big-league hit after a ninth-inning pitch deflected off Texas third baseman Josh Jung’s glove and landed in shallow left field.
In the subsequent at-bat, Wilyer Abreu launched a pitch into the right-field stands for a three-run homer, breaking a 2-2 tie and propelling Boston to its first victory of the 2025 season. “I’d say the latter half of the game is when I settled in,” Campbell recounted to reporters post-win. “The first part, I was really emotional, especially during the National Anthem.
I shed some tears, thinking about my family and the journey to this moment. The initial half was emotional, trying to compose myself, but I’m accustomed to it and focused on the latter half of the game.”