Boston Red Sox rookie Kristian Campbell hit his first career home run on Saturday, and the team’s bullpen tried to make him suffer for it.
Campbell launched his first MLB homer into the visitors’ bullpen against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. That meant the ball fell into the possession of the Red Sox bullpen.
The bullpen initially planned to make Campbell work for the ball. According to Red Sox manager Alex Cora, some of Boston’s relievers tried to convince Campbell that he had to pay them to get custody of the baseball.
“They got the baseball yesterday, and the rumor was they were going to try to sell it to him. He needed to buy it,” Cora admitted. “He didn’t buy into it. He knew that we were just messing with him.”
One can only wonder what the quoted price would have been. Pro athletes tend to be pretty unforgiving when it comes to making rookies pay up when given the chance.
Campbell is a consensus top-10 MLB prospect and looks like a future star. After going 1-for-4 Sunday, he bolstered his average to .429 through the first four games of the season. The Red Sox have needed it, too, with one of their big stars struggling in a historic way to start the season.
