The 2025 MLB spring training slate has given Boston Red Sox fans a glimpse at the future. Several of the club's top prospects have been given opportunities to earn big-league roster spots this spring, including second baseman Kristian Campbell.
The Red Sox fanbase expected big things from Campbell, who's currently the No. 7 prospect on MLB.com's top-100 rankings. It was only on March 10 when manager Alex Cora announced that the 22-year-old infielder would be playing second base going forward, leaving fans to assume that the 2B job was the latter's to lose.
That was over a week ago, though, and a lot can change in that time. In fact, Cora's latest comments suggest that Campbell's job might not be as safe as some people previously thought.
Red Sox News: Alex Cora Hints Marcelo Mayer Could Steal Kristian Campbell's 2B Job
According to Audacy Sports' Rob Bradford, Cora announced that Red Sox prospect Marcelo Mayer will be playing second base against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. When asked if Mayer could be the starting 2B when the regular season begins, the Boston skipper didn't exactly give Campbell the best vote of confidence.
"Everybody has a shot," Cora said.
Cora said of Marcelo Mayer playing second base today being possible preview of season: ‘Everybody has a shot’
— Rob Bradford (@bradfo) March 19, 2025
Cora's praise for Mayer didn't stop there. Despite having yet to make his MLB debut, the Red Sox manager already views the Chula Vista, CA native as a legitimate big-leaguer.
"The baseball player is real," Cora said about Mayer, per MLB.com's Ian Browne. "He’s not just a prospect. He's a baseball player."
Mayer, MLB.com's No. 12 prospect, has been with the Red Sox since he was drafted fourth overall in 2021. The 6-foot-3 infielder has ascended the club's rankings in recent years before spending the entire 2024 campaign with Double-A Portland, cranking out eight home runs, 38 RBIs, 30 walks, and 13 stolen bases with an impressive .307/.370/.480 slash line in 77 appearances.
Fortunately, he's capitalized on that momentum this spring. He's taken 28 at-bats across 15 games before Wednesday's meeting with the Tigers, tallying a home run, four walks, and nine RBIs while batting .357 with a .974 OPS.
While Mayer's spring showing has him on track to win the starting 2B job, Campbell's performance has him on pace to begin the year in the minors. The ex-2023 fourth-rounder has struggled at the plate throughout the exhibition slate, batting .158 while registering only six hits with 15 strikeouts in 38 ABs.
Following a slow start to spring training, Cora made it clear to Campbell on March 3 that the Red Sox prospect must have a better approach at the plate.
"We talked to him, and he said, 'Just got to swing.' (We were like), 'No, it’s the other way around. You've got to swing less,'" Cora admitted. "The 0-for-4 (against the Philadelphia Phillies), the last two strikeouts were pitches off the plate, and he doesn’t do that."
Mayer's ascent has been a great thing for the Red Sox, however, Campbell must find a way to catch up. Boston will be in a better place if both top prospects play to their potential, leaving time to tell if Cora can get the 2B candidates producing simultaneously as spring training winds down.
For now, the Red Sox will head into spring training's final stretch tied for the seventh-best 2025 World Series odds (+1800) on FanDuel Sportsbook.
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