The Red Sox (66-56) returned home on Friday after going 2-4 on the road in consecutive road series against the Padres (69-52) and Astros (68-53).
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Despite the losing, Boston has maintained their position as the second wild card team in the American League, and now sit 5 games back of the first-place Blue Jays (71-51) in the AL East.
Alex Cora’s team is playing good baseball, and will almost certainly be a part of the postseason this fall for the first time since 2021.
But with the team far from dominant, fans are constantly wondering how the Red Sox can improve a little bit more to push them over the edge of being a true World Series contender – especially after a relatively quiet trade deadline.
Could the addition of April AL Rookie of the Month Kristian Campbell help give Boston’s lineup a little more consistency down the stretch?
If Cora’s words on Friday mean anything, it doesn’t sound like the 23-year-old is going to be back with the big league club anytime soon.
Worcester’s Kristian Campbell watches his two-run home run in the fifth inning against Lehigh Valley July 29 at Polar Park.
Photo credit Rick Cinclair/Telegram & Gazette/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images
“What kind of reports have you gotten from Worcester on Krristian Campbell recently?” The Boston Herald’s Mac Cerullo asked Cora pregame.
“I’ve been watching on bats, and he’s producing, but there’s still work to do down there,” said Cora.
It doesn’t sound like skip is all that impressed with what he’s seen from Campbell at first base either.
“He’s been OK, you know?” said Cora. “Different situations come up every day, right? I mean, he’s learning, but he’s been OK.”
When Cora was asked to describe some of the specific work Campbell needs to do at the plate to get back to the bigs, he said that part of what needs to be done down in Worcester “he’s not going to get down there.”
“The same things that he struggled here with,” Cora said when asked for specifics. “Pitch recognition, covering certain shapes of fastballs. That’s something that is hard, because he’s not going to get that down there. He’s not.
“You know, the velo here – it’s harder, it’s faster, locations are on point here. With all due respect to the players down there, the gap is a big gap. So just one of those that we got to keep working, and he has to keep working and see what the future holds.”
Alex Cora says that while Kristian Campbell is producing at the plate in Triple-A, “there’s still work to do down there,” adding he’s only been “OK” at 1B
When asked specifically what he needs to work on, Cora said part of what he’ll need to do with covering certain shapes of… pic.twitter.com/N0XTtRcYUo
— Tom Carroll (@yaboiTCfresh) August 15, 2025
In 151 at bats down in Worcester, Campbell is batting .285 with 6 home runs, 23 RBI and 31 runs scored. His on base percentage is .410, his slugging percentage is .457, and his OPS is .837.
But of late, Campbell seems to be figuring it, producing numbers that would make you think a return to the bigs is getting close.
Ahead of his start for Worcester on Friday, Campbell has a hit in 19 of his last 22 games at a .370 clip (30 for 81) with 3 doubles, 5 home runs, 14 RBI, 7 walks and 20 runs scored.
So while the numbers tell one story, Cora’s tone on Friday tells another.
The Red Sox open a three-game series with the Marlins (58-63) on Friday night, with Boston trade deadline target Sandy Alcantara (6-11, 6.55 ERA) on the mound for Miami. The Red Sox will throw righty Lucas Giolito (8-2, 3.77 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET.
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Featured Image Photo Credit: Rick Cinclair/Telegram & Gazette/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images