Only eight days remain until Opening Day …
Today’s discussion centers on daring predictions, and I have one for each MLB team. I’ll kick things off with a fresh thought from today: Kristian Campbell will be among the top five second basemen by 2025.
I was optimistic about Campbell earlier in spring training, but I reevaluated my stance when he experienced challenges during Grapefruit League games. Additionally, his chances for playing time seemed hindered by the recent signing of Alex Bregman. Yet, recent developments suggest that these concerns may be unfounded.
While Campbell’s spring numbers are less than stellar, sitting at .167/.286/.222 for official games, he shone during the Spring Breakout game. Reports indicate that a notable Red Sox reporter believes Campbell is “the favorite for the second-base position” according to the team’s decision-makers.
This doesn’t guarantee his position, but it seems clear the Red Sox want Campbell to secure it – especially given they are contemplating moving Rafael Devers to DH just to allow David Hamilton to be their starting second baseman. Given this insight, I’ve significantly increased Campbell’s ranking, placing him in the top 200 and around 13th at second base. While the position offers considerable depth, few players possess Campbell’s game-changing potential. However, I’d recommend drafting Matt Shaw ahead of Campbell, as he has already secured a spot batting fifth for the Cubs in their opening game against the Dodgers.
Nonetheless, Campbell remains a worthy draft pick if he secures a roster spot. He is coming off an impressive season, hitting .330/.439/.558 with 20 home runs and 24 steals in 115 games, which led to his promotion to Triple-A. While the Red Sox have a full roster that may limit Campbell’s opportunities, his ADP in March (310.8) suggests his potential isn’t being fully considered, which could be a significant oversight. I would much rather gamble on Campbell in the 15th round than invest a fifth-round pick in Matt McLain.
Furthermore, I boldly predict that if Campbell makes the Opening Day roster, he will secure a spot as a top-five second baseman in Fantasy this season. While this is still a contingency, my confidence has notably risen in the last day.
