The Boston Red Sox are sending rookie Kristian Campbell to Triple-A, paving the best way for the return of outfielder Wilyer Abreu off the injured listing, sources informed ESPN on Thursday.
Campbell, the reigning Minor League Participant of the 12 months, signed an eight-year, $60 million contract extension earlier than the start of the season and gained American League Rookie of the Month in April, hitting .301/.407/.495. Since Might, he has struggled offensively, hitting .159/.243/.222, and defensively because the Purple Sox’s every-day second baseman.
The reset for Campbell, who turns 23 on June 28, comes within the wake of Boston buying and selling star slugger Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. The return of Abreu and eventual return of third baseman Alex Bregman from a proper quadriceps pressure are anticipated to fortify a lineup that ranks fifth within the main leagues with 358 runs scored.
Campbell rocketed to the large leagues after a 2024 through which he hit .330/.439/.558 with 20 house runs and 77 RBIs over three minor league ranges. Boston entered spring coaching hopeful he would earn the second-base job, and regardless of hitting .167/.305/.271, the Purple Sox had been assured sufficient in Campbell’s potential to succeed that they locked him as much as a deal that with two membership choices can run by 2034.
With a novel stance, Campbell managed to supply top-end exit velocities, and the Purple Sox banked on that potential to make up for his lack of minor league at-bats. A fourth-round pick of Georgia Tech in 2023, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Campbell responded with 4 multihit video games amongst his first seven within the huge leagues and completed April with 4 house runs and 12 RBIs.
Might and June have proved far harder, with simply 4 multihit video games among the many 38 he has performed. Campbell spent the primary eight days of Might within the cleanup spot however has been dropped to the underside of the order in June. In his final huge league sport Wednesday, he batted eighth and performed heart subject.
Abreu, who turns 26 on Tuesday, is anticipated to rejoin the Purple Sox 10 days after hitting the injured listing with a strained indirect. He went 1-for-4 in a rehabilitation look with Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday and would head to San Francisco for the Purple Sox’s sequence in opposition to the Giants that begins Friday.
In his third huge league season, Abreu is hitting .245/.321/.471 with 13 house runs, simply two shy of his profession finest in 2024. He joins a crowded outfield, with Gold Glove contender Ceddanne Rafaela — who also can play within the center infield — in heart, All-Star Jarren Duran in left and high prospect Roman Anthony in proper. Anthony is at present hitting third, the spot Abreu usually occupied earlier than his damage.