Red Sox’ rookie Kristian Campbell. (Daniel Kucin Jr. / Imagn Images)
Red Sox’ Kristian Campbell wrapped up winter ball in Puerto Rico as he looks to close the door on the his 2025 rookie campaign and prepare for the 2026 season.
Campbell’s 2025 season with the Red Sox began with real momentum following his March 27 Major League debut. He reached base in each of his first 17 games, the second-longest such streak to begin a career in franchise history, and through April slashed .287/.388/.460 with four home runs and 12 RBI. He looked confident and disciplined in each at-bat.
Then came the league’s counterpunch.
Over May and June, Campbell struggled to keep his timing and approach in sync, posting a .154/.249/.222 line as strikeouts climbed and quality contact dipped. Defensive issues added another layer of difficulty, highlighted by -8 Outs Above Average, and on June 19 the Red Sox sent him to Triple-A Worcester to reset the process.
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By season’s end, the final line reflected the turbulence of a young hitter who struggled to adjust to the rest of the league. He finished with a .223/.319/.345 stat line, six homers, 21 RBI, 24 runs scored, and a 27.4% strikeout rate across 229 at-bats
It wasn’t the season many envisioned — but it also wasn’t a loss of belief.
Even as the rookie ups and downs played out, the organization made its stance unmistakably clear. On April 2, just days into Campbell’s breakout, he signed an eight-year, $60 million extension running through 2032, with club options for 2033 and 2034.
The message was simple: the Red Sox weren’t judging Campbell solely on short-term fluctuations. They were investing in the player they believe he will become.
That belief didn’t materialize overnight. Campbell was selected in the fourth round (132nd overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Georgia Tech, and immediately showed signs of accelerating development. In 2023, he hit .309 across 22 games between rookie ball and High-A.
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Across three minor league levels, Campbell slashed .330/.439/.558, launched 20 home runs, drove in 77 runs, stole 24 bases, and earned multiple Minor League Player of the Year honors — fast-tracking him into Boston’s long-term plans.
That context is why winter ball carried real weight.
Early in Puerto Rico, Campbell was clearly adjusting to new mechanics. The timing wasn’t always clean, and some at-bats felt rushed. But as the games accumulated, so did the comfort.
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Campbell wasn’t alone, the Sox sent coaches Pete Fatse, John Soteropulos, and Kyle Hudson to Puerto Rico to work directly with Campbell, underscoring how hands-on the organization has been throughout the offseason.
Fatse, in particular, came away encouraged.
“The at-bats looked much better, more than anything else,” Fatse said to The Boston Globe. “He just looked quieter in the box.”
That description matched the visual evidence late in winter ball — fewer rushed movements, better pitch recognition, and a hitter more willing to trust the process rather than chase results.
In 14-games in Puerto Rico, Campbell slashed .245/.403/.367/.771 with four doubles, one triple, six RBI, 12 strike outs, 13 walks, and finished with a seven-game hitting streak. Over the course of that hitting streak, he hit .308/.455/500/.955.
Mechanics weren’t the only focus this winter.
One consistent theme echoed by those around the team has been Campbell’s physical reset. After losing muscle mass during the grind of the 2025 season, regaining strength became a priority — and it stood out immediately.
“I noticed it right when I got there,” Fatse said.
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The added bulk isn’t cosmetic. It’s about durability, maintaining bat speed over a full season, and giving Campbell a stronger base to support the mechanical changes he’s making at the plate.
As Campbell refines his approach at the plate, the Sox are looking to find a permanent position for him heading into 2026.
Campbell spent last season moving between first base, center field, left field, and right field, a level of versatility that showcased athleticism but also added mental strain during a demanding rookie year.
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“That’s something we’re actively discussing,” Craig Breslow told MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “Even if that may not be the case long-term, perhaps in the short term, just giving him some stability and certainty to where he’s going to play and maybe easing some of the kind of mental demands on trying to play multiple positions at the same time.”
That philosophy mirrors everything else Boston has emphasized this winter: fewer variables, clearer expectations, and a more sustainable foundation.
Winter ball didn’t produce a finished version of Campbell — and it wasn’t meant to. It produced direction for the young star, showing off his approach in the batter’s box, a stronger body, and potentially, a clearer position in the field.
For the Red Sox, the goal isn’t to recreate April’s hot start. It’s to build a version of Campbell that holds up in July, August, and beyond. This winter wasn’t about erasing what went wrong — it was about aligning the tools, the body, and the role.