Role
Kristian Campbell opened 2025 as Boston's second baseman, signed an eight-year extension a week into his career, and was optioned in June after hitting .223/.319/.345. He spent all of 2026 at Triple-A Worcester, mostly in the outfield: 51 games in right field and 34 in left. He was recalled Sept. 28 but didn't get into a game. His deal runs through 2032 with club options after that (per the team's announcement).
Outlook
His Worcester line was .256/.383/.380 with 8 homers, 73 walks and 126 strikeouts in 109 games. That full-season number hides a turnaround. Through June he hit .214/.345/.286 with 86 strikeouts in 64 games. From July on he hit .320/.440/.524 with six homers and 40 strikeouts in 45 games. He's 24, and the walk rate has held up all along.
Our take: the second half is the version of Campbell the Red Sox paid for. If Jarren Duran is traded, Boston has an opening for a right-handed outfield bat, and Campbell is the obvious in-house answer. He'll probably start in Worcester again, but we think he's in Boston for good by midseason.