Despite their many injuries and top prospects in camp, the storyline of Boston Red Sox spring training (so far) has been where Alex Bregman will play in 2025.
The Red Sox coveted two third basemen — Bregman via the free agent market and Nolan Arenado via trade — to resolve their right-handed offensive issues from last season. For the first time in years, Rafael Devers may not be Boston's starting third baseman on Opening Day, a prospect he isn't thrilled about.
But before the Sox decide who suits up at third base for Opening Day, they need to find their starting second baseman. They haven't had a consistent one since Dustin Pedroia in 2017. Bregman, Vaughn Grissom, David Hamilton and Kristian Campbell are among the players in the running, with Campbell as a potential favorite after his breakout season in the minor leagues.
The 22-year-old batted .330/.439/.558 with a .997 OPS over 115 games in the minors last year. He's right-handed, which will help the Sox against lefty pitchers, and his athleticism makes him a potential fit for multiple defensive roles. But a recent report from Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic may suggest Campbell hasn't yet adjusted to second base at the big league level.
Extra instruction needed for Kristian Campbell could mean Alex Bregman will be Red Sox's Opening Day second baseman, but it's still too early to know
“It’s been noticeable how much instruction the team has been giving Campbell, including manager Alex Cora, infield coach José Flores, Bregman and Trevor Story. In conversations, it seems as if the biggest areas of focus have been fine-tuning footwork, his pre-pitch setup and how he receives throws," McCaffrey wrote on Feb. 24.
McCaffrey noted that there's still plenty of time for Campbell to acclimate to playing second base but there's no sense in rushing him to the major leagues if his defense is behind schedule. She's right, especially when Boston has other potential fits at second base, like Bregman and Grissom.
If Campbell's adjustment to second base full-time doesn't go as planned, the Sox will likely turn to Bregman for the job, which would leave Devers as their Opening Day third baseman (unless Grissom or Hamilton blow the coaches away this spring). Campbell has played just 137 games in his professional baseball career, 19 at the Triple-A level, and he appeared in just two of those games at second base. It isn't hard to believe that he may need more time in the minors to be big-league-ready, and if he does, it could be Devers' easiest path to the starting third base job.