The Boston Red Sox are adjusting their infield lineup after first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury. This weekend, Kristian Campbell is scheduled to make his first career start at first base during the Red Sox’s series against the Atlanta Braves, as confirmed by manager Alex Cora on Wednesday. The rookie has spent the past two weeks preparing to fill the position.
Campbell Steps Into New Role Amidst Team Injuries
Since Casas went down, Romy Gonzalez, Abraham Toro, and Nick Sogard have rotated at first base, but Gonzalez was recently placed on the injured list with a quad contusion, compounding Boston’s shortage of options. Campbell, who is primarily a second baseman and has also played outfield, has never played first base in his professional experience until now. Despite this, Cora has expressed confidence after watching Campbell’s recent workouts.
“We talked a few days ago and he said, ‘I feel confident.’ I went out there twice and the way he moves, he’s going to make the routine plays. We’re going to see mistakes — where you have to go on the relays and stuff like that,”
Cora said before the series finale in Milwaukee.
He added,
“But we’ll probably have someone in the dugout being on top of him the whole game and (Campbell) pays attention to him. Having someone (guiding) him the whole game, from the dugout. ‘Make sure you’re doing this,’ and that. We’ll walk him through it.”
Experimenting with Campbell’s Role at First Base
The plan to use Campbell at first base is currently experimental rather than permanent. Cora mentioned that Campbell will be gradually introduced to the position until he gains more confidence and experience. While Campbell’s defensive skills show promise, his offensive performance has been struggling, particularly as he adjusts to his new role.
After a strong start to his major league career, Campbell’s batting has cooled significantly. In May, he posted a .120 batting average alongside a .325 OPS, revealing the difficulties of balancing positional changes with his plate performance.
Upcoming Series Against the Braves Will Test Campbell’s Adaptability
The Red Sox face the Atlanta Braves in a three-game series starting Friday night, with games two and three scheduled for Saturday and Sunday afternoons. It remains uncertain which specific game will mark Campbell’s first start at first base, but Cora’s decision highlights the team’s need to remain flexible in light of injuries.
This adjustment period may ultimately help Campbell expand his versatility on the field and provide Boston with valuable depth as the season progresses.