It has been well chronicled how impressive the start to Boston Red Sox Kristian Campbell’s rookie season has been. After signing a $60 million extension at the beginning of the season, he has backed it up by joining some impressive Red Sox company.
Campbell leads the team with a .412 on-base percentage through the first month of his Major League career, and according to J.P. Long, that is the third-highest mark for a Boston player since 1941. Who ranks first and second on that list, you may ask? Franchise legend Ted Williams.
Williams’ on-base percentage was slightly higher in both seasons prior, but in today’s MLB, where velocity and spin rate are through the roof, and hitting is harder than it’s ever been, Campbell’s mark is nothing short of remarkable.
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan (33) slides past Boston Red Sox second baseman Kristian Campbell (28) during the ninth inning at Fenway Park.
Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
The 22-year-old second baseman is one of the Red Sox’s top three prospects that the organization is very high on. Boston had a glaring hole in the middle of the infield, and Campbell has filled that hole very nicely, even on the defensive side.
After 27 games with Boston, he is hitting .305 with 10 extra-base hits, 17 runs scored, and an OPS of .886.
It’s still early on in the season, but if Campbell continues on the pace he’s at, he will likely be a strong/leading candidate for American League Rookie of the Year.
The last time a Red Sox player won Rookie of the Year was back in 2007 when fellow second-baseman Dustin Pedroia took home the hardware.
