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CBS News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Red Sox sending Kristian Campbell to Triple-A Worcester
The Boston Red Sox are sending struggling second baseman Kristian Campbell to Triple-A Worcester. ESPN's Jeff Passan was first to report Campbell's demotion on Thursday. The Red Sox are expected to announce the move Friday ahead of a three-game series against the Giants in San Francisco, with outfielder Wilyer Abreu set to be activated from the Injured List to take Campbell's spot on the roster. Campbell broke Spring Training as Boston's starting second baseman after an impressive camp, and the 22-year-old rookie got off to a hot start at the plate when he slashed .301/.407/.495 with four homers, eight doubles, 12 RBI, and 18 runs scored over his first 29 games. Campbell was the Rookie of the Month after his hot March and April, and was signed to an eight-year, $60 million contract less than a week after he began his Major League career. But he's gone ice cold since that scorching start, with Campbell hitting just .159 -- going 20-for-140 -- with a .243 on-base percentage since May 1. He's struck 40 strikeouts to just 10 walks over his last 38 games. The Red Sox have put a lot on the rookie's plate, with manager Alex Cora still batting him as high as fourth in the lineup despite Campbell's struggles. He had recently dropped to the bottom third of the lineup. And while Campbell started 54 games at second base, he was also moving around the field as he navigated his rookie season. He made seven starts in center field (including Wednesday's finale in Seattle) and two appearances in left. He also started doing some work at first base after the injury to Triston Casas, before the Red Sox pulled the plug on the experiment. In his 59 overall appearances at second, Campbell made seven errors to lead the team. The Red Sox are now hoping a little time in the minors will help Campbell regain his confidence at the plate and in the field. A fourth-round pick by Boston in 2023 out of Georgia Tech, Campbell played just 19 of his 138 minor league games at the Triple-A. Who will play second base for Red Sox? While Campbell tries to get right in the minors, the Red Sox will rely on David Hamilton and Romy Gonzalez to man second base. Hamilton is hitting just .172 in his 99 plate appearances, while Gonzalez is slashing .308/.473/.819 in his 28 games played. Gonzalez has seen action at first, second, and third base for Boston this season. Things could get interesting in the infield when Alex Bregman returns to third. When that happens, there's a good chance rookie Marcelo Mayer (.220/.277/.475 with four homers and six RBI) slides over to second, or he could potentially play shortstop with Trevor Story making the move to second.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox Make Massive Decision on Top Prospect Before Giants Series
Red Sox Make Massive Decision on Top Prospect Before Giants Series originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It's been an interesting week for the Boston Red Sox as they continue to stay in playoff contention this 2025 MLB season. Advertisement After pulling off the first blockbuster trade of the season, sending Boston's highest-paid player, Rafael Devers, to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for pitching prospects Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, Jose Bello, and 2024 first-round pick James Tibbs III – the Red Sox appear to be continuing to reshape their lineup. It's been announced that the Red Sox have decided to designate second baseman Kristian Campbell back down to Triple-A Worcester before their highly anticipated series against Rafael Devers and the San Francisco Giants. At just 22 years old, Kristian Campbell spent a little over a year in the minors before impressing manager Alex Cora during Spring Training back in March. Advertisement Cora rewarded him with a spot on the Red Sox's 2025 Opening Day roster, and Campbell has since established himself as an everyday starter for Boston this season. His rookie season started out extremely hot, finishing the month of April with a .301 batting average and a .902 OPS. Since the start of May, however, Campbell has slumped, and has dropped his hitting statistics down to a .223 batting average and .664 OPS while hitting six home runs and 21 RBI in the 67 games he's played this season. Boston Red Sox second baseman Kristian Campbell (28) hits a RBI against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning at Fenway Fluharty-Imagn Images Manager Alex Cora hasn't made an announcement on what the future plans for second base will be for the Red Sox, but once third baseman Alex Bregman returns from his quad injury that landed him on the injured list in late May, there seems to be some moving around in the infield for Boston. Advertisement Rookie mutlitool infielder Marcelo Mayer has emerged as a player that can move around within the infield, so there's a possibility that the Red Sox could plug him into the second base position. The Red Sox will travel to San Francisco to take on a familiar face in Rafael Devers and the Giants in a three-game series that begins on Friday night. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox Announce Lineup Change After Rafael Devers Trade
Red Sox Announce Lineup Change After Rafael Devers Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports. At least for the season's first few months, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora knew he could pencil Rafael Devers in at DH and Ceddanne Rafaela as his center fielder every day. Advertisement Wednesday's game against the Seattle Mariners lacks both players, albeit for vastly different reasons. Devers recorded two hits in his San Francisco Giants debut on Tuesday night, though the Cleveland Guardians nonetheless snagged a 3-2 victory. Rafaela, on the other hand, is simply sitting out Wednesday's series finale against the Seattle Mariners. Cora opted to start rookie Kristian Campbell in center field instead. Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne RafaelaBrian Fluharty-Imagn Images Rafaela has quietly been a major piece for the 38-37 Red Sox, entering Wednesday with 2.3 bWAR over 70 games. A third-year utilityman who found a home in center field, Rafaela owns a .247 average with six home runs, 26 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. Advertisement Rafaela isn't the most imposing hitter, and his .681 OPS ranks well below the league average of .712. However, he's grown into a reliable starter for a Red Sox team chasing only its second postseason appearance since 2019. The Red Sox trail the Mariners by half a game for the AL's third and final Wild Card spot. Boston is 10-5 in June despite only outscoring opponents 75-70. Related: Red Sox Make Roster Announcement After Rafael Devers Trade Related: Red Sox Legend Says Club 'Didn't Respect' Rafael Devers Following Blockbuster Trade This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Might Boston Red Sox face issues if rookie catcher keeps playing this much?
SEATTLE — The catcher position has been a strength for the Red Sox in 2025 with Carlos Narváez turning into one of the best players at his position out of nowhere. The 26-year-old entered this season with just six major league games on his resume. He's second among Red Sox players in fWAR (2.5) behind only Garrett Crochet (2.7). Advertisement But might the rookie wear down if he keeps playing at his current rate, potentially turning the catcher position from a strength into an issue during the second half? Narváez has already caught 471 ⅓ innings — just 94 innings shy of his career season-high in pro ball. He caught 565 ⅓ innings between Double A and Triple A in 2023. How might the Red Sox handle his workload as the season progresses? " Keep playing," manager Alex Cora said. 'I mean, you have a 3 WAR or whatever that is. So we have to play.' Cora acknowledged catcher is more physically demanding than other positions. 'It's very hard,' Cora said. 'But what are we gonna do?' Advertisement Cora said what the Red Sox can do is listen to feedback from the medical staff and strength and conditioning department. He also said the Red Sox need to rely on Narváez to be honest about how he feels physically. 'I think this week, it works for him,' Cora said. Narváez was not in the starting lineup for the Red Sox' 3-1 win over the Mariners on Wednesday. Boston has Thursday off and so that will allow Narváez to receive back-to-back days off. Cora said his starting catcher also likely will sit one of the three games in San Francisco over the weekend. 'At one point you have to play,' Cora said. 'That's how it works. And he's been very productive. He's one of the best defensive catchers in the big leagues. Offensively, he's been one of our best hitters, so we have to play him.' Advertisement Narváez, who has been batting cleanup, ranks in the 95th percentile or higher in blocks above average, caught stealing above average and framing. Connor Wong, meanwhile, has given the Red Sox almost nothing offensively as the backup catcher. He's just 10-for-65 (.154) with a .257 on-base percentage, .154 slugging percentage and .411 OPS in 27 games. He has yet to record an RBI. It will be important for Wong to give the Red Sox more production going forward, especially as Narváez's innings behind the plate continue to pile up. Wong simply might need to catch more during the second half — or the Red Sox might need to look to add a backup catcher at the trade deadline. 'The production offensively, we see it, but I think the at-bats have been a lot better the last 10 days,' Cora said about Wong. 'Behind the plate his production has been better than last year.' Advertisement Wong has been much better with both blocking and framing this season. He's in the 79th percentile in framing and 76th percentile in blocks above average. 'That was something that we worked so hard in the offseason to accomplish and he's doing that,' Cora said. 'All depends on how we see it, right? He's not playing every day, so maintain the defensive part of it, call a good game. Whatever you can contribute offensively, do it. ... It's hard to go 4-for-4 in this league when you're playing every day. Imagine not playing every day. So whatever you can do to contribute offensively, we'll take it.' More Red Sox coverage Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox Predicted to Trade Wilyer Abreu at MLB Trade Deadline
Red Sox Predicted to Trade Wilyer Abreu at MLB Trade Deadline originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After the Boston Red Sox traded away Rafael Devers, the future outlook of the team was in question. The next step for the team to take is still up in the air, and Boston could still be buyers, just like CBO Craig Breslow claimed. Advertisement But, an article from Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report predicted that the Red Sox would be sellers, and would ship off one of the team's best outfielders. Rymer called out Red Sox right fielder, and Gold Glove winner, Wilyer Abreu, as a player the Red Sox could trade at the deadline. "The guess here is the Red Sox are in for some short-term pain," Rymer writes. "Which could facilitate the availability of Walker Buehler, Aroldis Chapman, and maybe even controllable types like Wilyer Abreu." A scenario of the Red Sox trading away Abreu would be a complete disaster for the Red Sox. With Devers no longer in the picture, there is room for all of the team's outfielders. Roman Anthony and Jarren Duran won't have to compete for left-field duties, and Ceddane Rafaela can continue to patrol center field. Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is seen before a game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Gorski-Imagn Images The fourth outfielder, whoever it is that day, can be the designated hitter. Boston sending away Abreu after the Devers trade would be a continuation of the frustration Red Sox fans have felt the moment the trade broke. Advertisement Part of why this prediction would be so bad for the Red Sox is how much control Abreu has. He's under team control through 2029 and is fairly cheap during that time frame as well. Losing a player like that makes no sense for Boston amid their desire to get younger and cheaper. At 25 years old, and about to turn 26, Abreu is young, cheap, and good. In 2025, before the injury, Abreu was hitting .245 with 13 home runs and 51 hits. His 1.7 WAR had him on track to beat his previous career high. But, with his injury, his season stats are a little more up in the air if they'll be better than 2024. If Rymer's prediction were to come true, and the team were to trade away Abreu, it would be another move to draw the ire of Red Sox fans. Abreu should be a part of the team's future, not a trade chip. Related: Red Sox Urged by MLB Exec to Add Brewers' Rhys Hoskins After Rafael Devers Trade Related: Red Sox's CBO Sends Ridiculous Shot at Rafael Devers This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
