Alex Cora gave this Red Sox player an ‘A+’ grade to open the 2025 MLB season
"It's a good time to be a Red Sox.”
One of the most impressive players on the 2025 Red Sox roster was playing Double-A ball at this time last season.
Rookie second baseman Kristian Campbell has validated the hype so far in his first taste of the big leagues — with the 22-year-old infielder batting .313 and sporting a .935 OPS over his first 28 games with Boston.
Speaking on WEEI Wednesday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora doled out plenty of praise toward Campbell over how he’s adjusted right out of the gate to MLB competition.
“So far man, a month in the big leagues, A+ for him,” Cora said of Campbell. “He’s been amazing.”
Despite only appearing in 137 career games in the minor leagues, Campbell’s meteoric rise and advanced hit tools prompted Boston to carve out a starting role for the skilled second baseman right out of the gate in 2025.
Even with some growing pains defensively (three errors), Campbell has already offered up plenty of value at baseball’s highest level — accumulating a 1.2 WAR, according to Baseball Reference.
Campbell has slugged four home runs over his first month-plus of action with Boston, including an opposite-field solo shot during Tuesday’s 10-2 win over the Blue Jays.
“It’s been fun to watch and refreshing,” Cora said of Campbell’s play. “I think being young and not knowing what’s going on, it actually helps him out. Everything is a first, right? From playing here in Toronto in Canada to playing in Arlington [Texas], under the roof and playing in Fenway Park.
“So it’s a lot of new stuff for him. There’s a lot of teaching. A lot of player development. I think as an organization we understand that we have to stay on top of him because experience is not his. He’s only played one full season as a professional player. He didn’t play that much in college. So there’s a lot of new stuff that he’s seeing and he’s reacting to it. But man, it’s amazing.”
Campbell could be just the start of an influx of elite talent rising up through Boston’s farm system — as fellow top prospects Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer are also knocking at the door for big-league reps.
The 20-year-old Anthony — MLB.com’s No. 2 prospect in baseball — is batting .306 with five home runs, 14 RBI, and an 1.004 OPS through 24 games with Triple-A Worcester. Mayer has also been a force at the plate with the same club, slugging seven home runs and recording 34 RBI in 24 games.
Cora was asked on WEEI about when he expects to see players like Mayer and Anthony contributing up with the Red Sox.
“Just looking at metrics, what they’re doing – not everything is hitting .330 or slugging .500, you know?” Cora said. “There’s other stuff that we take a look at. From my end – honestly, I got 26 kids here that have to take care of, and also paying attention to what’s going on in Triple-A. Not only with them, but with others.
“But as our organization, we’re in a good spot, to be honest with you. You know, we’re playing better up here. We got some guys that can help us throughout the season in the minor leagues. So it’s a good time to be a Red Sox.”
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