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How Alex Cora creatively revealed to Kristian Campbell that he made the Red Sox roster
"He told me that my name would be added to that list. So it was a special moment, for sure."
Kristian Campbell’s Major League moment: Kristian Campbell, the Baseball America 2024 Minor League Player of the Year, will begin the 2025 Major League season with the Red Sox.
The news reached Campbell on Sunday after the team’s final spring training game, and was revealed in an enjoyably surprising way for the 22-year-old. Boston manager Alex Cora snuck the news into a project he had the rookie assigned to.
“There’s a little bit of a backstory behind it,” Campbell told reporters on Monday night. “He asked me about all the different guys who played professional baseball that went to Georgia Tech. He gave me a list of different guys and everything, and he told me that my name would be added to that list. So it was a special moment, for sure.”
“It’s a dream come true for sure.” 🥹
— NESN (@NESN) March 24, 2025
Kristian Campbell reacts to making the Red Sox opening day roster 🌟 pic.twitter.com/4FCPE04JDe
Campbell has experienced a meteoric rise since being picked by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. By 2024, he posted an impressive 330/.439/.558 slash line across three minor league levels. He’s now the team’s No. 2 prospect (behind Roman Anthony), and the No. 7 overall prospect in baseball, per MLB.com.
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Among Georgia Tech baseball talents, he joins a list that includes former Red Sox Jason Varitek and Nomar Garciaparra as players who made it to the MLB level.
“It was a dream come true, for sure,” Campbell said of making the team. “It was really exciting. [I] had to my call my family, call my mom, dad, brother and sister. Let everybody know. It was cool.
“They were yelling on the phone,” he said of the reaction. “They were super excited for me. It’s definitely something I’ve worked for my whole life. So, it’s a really special moment.”
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Boston will begin the season on Thursday in Texas against the Rangers at 4:05 p.m.
Trivia: Kristian Campbell was last year’s Minor League Player of the Year according to Baseball America. Who was the most recent player to win that award before Campbell while a member of the Red Sox organization?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: 2016.
Scores and schedules:
On Monday, the Celtics defeated the Kings 113-95. Boston will face the Suns in Phoenix on Wednesday at 10 p.m.
Tomorrow, the Boston Fleet play the Toronto Sceptres at Agganis Arena in Boston at 7 p.m.
Also happening on Wednesday, the Bruins will play the Ducks in Anaheim at 10 p.m.
And on Thursday, the Red Sox begin the 2025 MLB regular season on the road in Texas against the Rangers at 4:05 p.m.
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A heartwarming moment: Enjoy this interview with Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell. While his reference of Mookie Betts might still hit Boston fans a little hard, the camera cut to his fellow prospects is a moment that will make Red Sox fans smile.
We asked Kristian Campbell (@RedSox ) who he enjoys watching on the diamond.
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) March 24, 2025
And, well, just watch what happened next… 😂 pic.twitter.com/cniXrOMqTL
And speaking of Red Sox prospects: Red Sox infield prospect Marcelo Mayer clubbed a home run during the team’s preseason game in Mexico on Monday.
Red Sox No. 3 prospect Marcelo Mayer launches a Monterrey jack! pic.twitter.com/62VOHVhSAb
— MLB (@MLB) March 25, 2025
On this day: In 1947, Holy Cross defeated Oklahoma 58-47 to win the men’s college basketball national championship. It remains one of the more improbable outcomes in the history of the NCAA Tournament, at least on the surface. In reality, Holy Cross had what was — at the time — a stacked roster that even included future Celtics star and Hall of Fame point guard Bob Cousy (then a freshman).
Daily highlight: Baylor Scheierman showed off some skill in what has been a good stretch in recent games for the Celtics rookie. Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis, and the rest of the Boston bench was delighted.
Okayyyyy Rook 🤌 pic.twitter.com/4xMDvVFmfx
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 25, 2025
Trivia answer: Yoan Moncada
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