Red Sox’ 23-year-old outfielder ‘knows what he needs to do to get back to the big leagues’

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Manager Alex Cora said Friday that Red Sox outfielder Kristian Campbell has appeared much more comfortable off the field this spring training.

“You can see a big difference,” Cora said, adding that the 23-year-old Campbell knows where to find conference rooms and when meetings start.

“He knows how to look at his schedule and he knows what he needs to do to get back to the big leagues, which is the most important thing,” Cora said.

Much has changed for Campbell in one year. He was the favorite throughout 2025 camp to win the starting second base job despite being a non-roster invitee and having played just one full season of minor league ball.

Things moved quickly for him: He made the Opening Day roster, got off to a hot start offensively, signed an eight-year, $60 million extension April 2 and won AL Rookie of the Month for April.

But he then went just 20-for-126 (.159 batting average) in 38 games in May and June. The Red Sox optioned him to Triple-A Worcester on June 20. He remained with the WooSox for the rest of the season and the Red Sox had him working at several different positions there.

This spring, Campbell is not a lock or favorite to make the 2026 Opening Day roster. The Red Sox know he still has work to do offensively and defensively. They are also having him work exclusively in the outfield during team workouts.

His offensive ability is his greatest tool, Cora said.

The Red Sox recommended changes to his setup. Campbell said that his hands are a lot lower than they were last year. It should help him be quicker to pitches low and inside. His swing also features less movement, helping him get to pitches more quickly.

“If we get this (the offense) back, we can find at-bats,” Cora said earlier in camp.

Campbell went 1-for-2 with an RBI single and an RBI sac fly in Boston’s 18-3 victory over Northeastern at JetBlue Park on Friday.

Cora said Campbell’s at-bats looked good.

“Situational hitting, something that we’ve been preaching,” Cora said. “He did a good job hitting the ball in the air twice and cashing in.”

The defense is also very important. Campbell began last season as Boston’s starting second baseman, but he struggled there with minus-16 defensive runs saved in 471 ⅔ innings.

The Red Sox feel his athleticism plays best in the outfield. He started in center field against the Huskies.

Campbell said the outfield work is going well and he can let his athleticism take over when he’s out there. He said he feels like an outfielder.

“Especially because I’ve been working with the outfielders every day,” Campbell said. “So that’s my group that I’m with every day. When I look at the depth chart and stuff, my name is with the outfielders. So I definitely feel like an outfielder, for sure. I think last year I felt like a utility (player) — like kind of a little bit of both (an infielder and outfielder).”

Campbell said the swing adjustments feel good so far and he is much more comfortable this spring.

“I use an analogy all the time — like going into college from high school, you don’t really know anyone around you going in and you gotta get used to people, coaches,” Campbell said. “There’s a lot to do all at once sometimes. But it was the same thing last year, coming to the big league camp, not really being familiar with anybody. Just getting to know your teammates, getting to know the coaches and everybody all at once can be tough sometimes, especially since there’s a lot of people.

“People are different in different ways,” Campbell added. “I’m more on the quiet side, so it takes me a second to get used to people sometimes.”