Kristian Campbell could not be stopped last summer.
Drafted by Boston in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Georgia Tech, Campbell was tabbed as a solid contact hitter whose versatility could make him a valuable asset on Alex Cora’s roster in due time.
At least, such was the sentiment before last year.
In a Red Sox farm system loaded with young talent, Campbell has quickly asserted himself as a potential franchise pillar alongside Roman Anthony — due in large part to a meteoric rise in the eyes of talent evaluators.
And if the 2024 campaign was any indication, Campbell’s blistering production at the plate could have been etched in the Red Sox’ lineup card as soon as Opening Day.
Even though Anthony holds court as baseball’s No. 1 prospect in the eyes of both Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus, Campbell is not far behind.
Baseball America tabbed Campbell as their “Prospect of the Year” for the 2024 season, while Baseball Prospectus listed him as the No. 3 prospect in baseball for the upcoming season.
All it takes is a quick glance at Campbell’s stat line to see just why the infielder’s stock has spiked in short order.
In the span of just one season, Campbell advanced from High-A Greenville to Triple-A Worcester, slashing .330/.439/.558 with 20 home runs, 32 doubles, 77 RBI, and 24 steals across three levels and 115 total games.
While his aggressive swing yielded a high contact rate against collegiate competition, the Red Sox development staff made it a priority for Campbell to tap into more power through those high-powered hacks.
The 6-foot-3, 191-pound slugger may not boast the most imposing frame, but that high contact rate and strong bat speed had him teeing off against pitching at just about every level.
