Watch: Kristian Campbell makes wild catch playing first base for WooSox
Both Campbell and fellow top prospect Jhostynxon Garcia have been practicing at first base in Worcester.
After an elongated stay in Triple-A Worcester, Kristian Campbell is surely hoping he’ll be back in the majors by the end of 2025. If he hopes to make an impact in Boston this season, though, it’ll likely require a position change.
The Red Sox have developed a strong defensive core over the course of the season. Alex Bregman glues the infield together, Trevor Story is finally turning into the two-way stalwart Boston hoped it would find in him, and Marcelo Mayer — though currently injured — showed promise as a consistent starter at second base.
Boston’s only infield hole this season has been at first base, where Abraham Toro has occupied the majority of starts since Triston Casas got hurt early in 2025. Since the Red Sox didn’t trade for a first baseman at the deadline, it opened a potential opportunity for Campbell to make appearances there if necessary.
Both Campbell and fellow top Red Sox prospect Jhostynxon Garcia have taken reps at the corner in practice, and Campbell has been moonlighting there in games for the WooSox. On Saturday, he made an unbelievable play tracking down a foul ball hit well over his head.
Campbell somehow never lost track of the ball during his mad scramble down the first base line. Watch him secure the out here:
Despite Campbell’s positional versatility heading into 2025, Boston doesn’t currently have an obvious path forward for him. He spent time in the outfield to start the season, but that’s since become Boston’s deepest defensive group.
The same issue remains true for Garcia, so it makes sense that both of the promising hitters found their way to first base to be — at the very least — depth options for Alex Cora if the Red Sox make a playoff run.
Toro has certainly been serviceable on the hot corner in 2025; he commands a respectable .255 batting average and .310 on-base percentage, with six home runs and 24 RBI.
However, having extra options like Campbell and Garcia would bolster the Red Sox lineup as a whole. Both Campbell and Garcia bat right-handed as well, so adding them to the mix would help balance Boston’s lefty-heavy lineup.
Whether either prospect winds up playing first for the Red Sox this season remains to be seen. But Boston is full steam ahead in its postseason push, and will likely need a lot of players ready for whatever October brings.
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