The Red Sox are moving Kristian Campbell around the field again, this time adding right field to his growing list of positions in AAA Worcester.
Campbell started in right field for the WooSox yesterday, marking his first time at the position since rookie ball back in 2023. It’s another sign that Boston’s pushing one of their top prospects toward a utility role for next season.
The 22-year-old has been shuffling between positions all year in AAA. He’s now played six different spots: first base, second base, DH, left field, center field, and right field. That’s quite a tour around the diamond.
Campbell’s been solid at the plate through 63 games, slashing .272/.385/.431 with nine doubles and eight homers. The bat’s there – it’s just a matter of where he’ll fit defensively.
Filling a Future Need
The Red Sox currently have three utility players in Romy Gonzalez, David Hamilton, and Rob Refsnyder. But that group might look different soon.
Refsnyder’s closer to retirement than his prime. Hamilton brings speed and baserunning but not much else offensively. The way I see it, Campbell’s being groomed as their solution.
What makes this interesting is the positional balance. Hamilton’s primarily a middle infielder, Refsnyder’s an outfielder. Campbell could bridge that gap – giving them someone who can cover multiple spots effectively.
According to Sox insider Andrew Parker, this right field experiment represents Campbell’s first start there since the Florida Complex League. That’s a big jump from rookie ball to AAA in terms of defensive responsibility.
All things considered, Campbell’s versatility makes sense for a Red Sox team that values flexibility. The hope is he eventually settles into a primary position while maintaining that ability to move around when needed.
He’s earned that shot with his performance so far.
