The Red Sox’s decision to begin testing rookie Kristian Campbell at first base has raised eyebrows—and concerns—about player development across the roster.
With Triston Casas out for the season due to a ruptured patella tendon, Boston has struggled to find a reliable replacement at first. Three players—Romy Gonzalez, Abraham Toro, and Nick Sogard—have tried to fill the gap, but none appear to be long-term solutions. Now, manager Alex Cora is experimenting with Campbell, a natural second baseman, by having him take ground balls at first as a preliminary trial.
The decision is drawing criticism from fans and observers who worry the move may stunt Campbell’s growth. At just 22 years old, Campbell is a highly athletic player who has shown promise at multiple positions—including center field at Fenway Park, one of the toughest defensive assignments in baseball. However, first base is the one position he’s never played, even in college. Adding that learning curve during his rookie year, while he’s already struggling at the plate (.128 average, .440 OPS over his last 11 games), may only complicate his development.
The positional shuffling also affects top prospect Marcelo Mayer, who many view as the Red Sox’s shortstop of the future. To make room for him in the infield, the team is considering shifting him away from shortstop—potentially to second or third—despite short being his natural spot. Meanwhile, veteran Trevor Story remains the everyday shortstop, even though his defensive metrics have slipped, ranking poorly in both Outs Above Average and arm strength.
Mayer is excelling in the minors, posting an .828 OPS with 14 extra-base hits, making a strong case for promotion. Critics argue that the better path would be to bring Mayer up as a shortstop, leave Campbell at second, and address the first base issue with a veteran addition—not by shoehorning inexperienced players into unfamiliar roles.
Ultimately, while the Red Sox are scrambling to patch their infield in the wake of Casas’ injury, trying Campbell at first base is being viewed as a short-sighted fix that could hinder the development of multiple key prospects.
