The Rise of Kristian Campbell
Plus Roman Anthony injury update, Zach Penrod's AAA debut, promotions throughout the Red Sox farm system and more
Photo: Kristian Campbell by Gwinn Davis https://www.gwinndavis.com/
Boston Red Sox utility prospect Kristian Campbell has raked in the low affiliates of the minor leagues since being selected from Georgia Tech in last summer’s first-year player draft. Seeing most of his playing time at shortstop with the Yellow Jackets, Campbell has deferred to fellow Red Sox farmhands Mikey Romero and Eddinson Paulino by playing all around the diamond to make the Greenville Drive’s lineup more flexible for manager Iggy Suarez. Since signing with the Red Sox organization for a bonus of $492,700, the utility man played 8 games at Boston’s Florida Complex League site before skipping Low-A Salem and totaling 54 appearances for High-A Greenville. Prior to his promotion to Double-A Portland this past weekend, Campbell has appeared in 34 games at second base, 4 in left field, 12 in center field, 2 in right field, 10 as the designated hitter, and made his first professional appearance at third base on Sunday.
Known for his contact skills at Georgia Tech (7.8% strikeout rate in his lone collegiate season), Campbell seems to have sacrificed some of his outlier contact ability in favor of impacting the baseball at a higher rate. Although his 26.6% strikeout rate this season is unlike a player of his profile, his .306/.418/.558 slash line is good for an isolated power of .252, with 8 home runs in 177 plate appearances. His quick rise to the high minors will be tested by Eastern League pitching, as the Red Sox organization will likely keep him in Double-A Portland for the remainder of the 2024 season.
After not appearing in a game for Portland since May 25, Roman Anthony is expected to be back in the lineup for the Sea Dogs in the coming days. The outfielder has been dealing with rib cage irritation and is considered day-to-day, per Chris Hatfield of soxprospects.com.
Welcome to the Woo
Zach Penrod earned a promotion to Triple-A Worcester after dominating Eastern League lineups through his first 7 starts of the 2024 season, and made his debut for the WooSox this past Thursday in Charlotte. The left-hander faced big leaguers Jared Walsh and Oscar Colas en route to tossing 4 shutout innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5 Knights batters. Penrod used his four-seam fastball (red), slider (yellow), and changeup (green) in the outing. The left-hander’s next appearance is slated for Thursday against the Rochester Red Wings.
Zach Penrod’s pitch movement plot on 5/30/24 vs Charlotte (Baseball Savant)
Rehabbing big leaguer Isaiah Campbell followed Penrod on Thursday, making his fourth appearance for Worcester since being cleared from an impingement in his throwing shoulder, retroactive to April 12. The right-hander also made an appearance on Saturday, leaving his rehab results without an earned run over 5 1/3 innings, 2 hits, 2 walks and 8 strikeouts.
It’s promotion season. Vaughn Grissom and Romy Gonzalez’ respective IL stints led to Bobby Dalbec and Jamie Westbrook being added to the major league squad. With that, outfielder Matthew Lugo was elevated to Worcester’s roster after Sunday’s slate of games. Repeating the Double-A level in 2024, Lugo’s stellar progression will be put to the test by International League pitching staffs.
Matthew Lugo’s 2023 and 2024 hitting profile. Credit: Ian Cundall
Jedixson Paez, Blake Wehunt, Jhostynxon Garcia promoted to Greenville
Two months into the MiLB season, certain prospects have shown they are not being challenged at the level they were placed at to start the 2024 season. Jedixson Paez fits this description, as the 20-year-old right-handed pitcher made 5 starts and 7 total appearances for Low-A Salem, pitching to a 2.53 earned run average and a fielding independent pitching of 2.30. Paez made his High-A debut on Sunday in relief, allowing 2 earned runs (both solo home runs) and 6 hits, striking out 4.
Blake Wehunt was added to Greenville’s starting rotation on Tuesday, adding to a string of transactions that followed the right-hander allowing 2 runs and 6 hits over his last two starts for Salem. Wehunt was Boston’s 9th round selection of the 2023 draft, signing for a $100,000 bonus out of Kennesaw State. The 6’7” right-hander was 2-0 in 8 appearances (all starts) for Salem, striking out 44 batters, walking 15, and surrendering 1 home run across 33 1/3 innings pitched, to the tune of a 2.16 ERA. Wehunt’s High-A debut is slated for Wednesday against the Hickory Crawdads.
Jhostynxon Garcia made his High-A debut in Greenville this past Thursday, recording 5 plate appearances without a hit. Signed by Boston as an international free agent in 2019, Garcia has been dynamic for Low-A Salem this season, swiping 14 bags while slashing .258/.365/.517, most impressively slugging above .500 in Salem, which has a park factor of 67 (33% below league average) for home runs as of 2021-2022. The outfielder will have to be added to Boston’s 40-man roster this upcoming offseason, or else he will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft.
Other Promotions
19-year-old right-handed pitcher Ovis Portes was promoted to Salem from the Red Sox’ Florida Complex League team on Tuesday.
2023 Minor League Rule 5 draft selection Mickey Gasper was promoted to AAA Worcester from Portland on Tuesday.
Catcher Tyler Heineman was promoted to Boston on Tuesday as the corresponding move to Wilyer Abreu going to the injured list.
Top Performers
Luis Perales spun 5 innings of 2-hit ball on Sunday in his Double-A debut against the Altoona Curve. The flamethrowing right-hander limited the Curve to one walk, a sign that his command (4.7 BB/9 in pro ball) could be taking steps towards improving. Perales’ next start is slated for Sunday against the Akron RubberDucks.
Kyle Teel took home Eastern League Player of the Week for the week of May 27-June 2, raising his season line to .307/.411/.497. The 22-year-old catcher has hit 6 home runs in 40 games for Portland, and eyes an assignment to Triple-A Worcester later this season.