Which one of Boston’s Big Three prospects — Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell or Marcelo Mayer — will make his MLB debut first? Do any of them have a chance to begin the 2025 season with the Red Sox?
MLB Pipeline recently polled front office officials to find out their top 2025 AL Rookie of the Year candidates. Anthony and Tigers right-handed pitching prospect Jackson Jobe topped the list with 19.1% of the vote each. Campbell, meanwhile, received the fifth highest percentage (8.5%).
Anthony, Campbell and Mayer all are expected to begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Worcester, where they finished last season. But the Red Sox do have some incentive if one of them tears it up during spring training.
A Rookie of the Year winner earns his team an extra draft pick but only if he made his team’s Opening Day roster, accrued a full season of major league service time and made two of three preseason Top 100 lists (MLB Pipeline, Baseball America and ESPN.com).
- BETTING: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
Anthony, Campbell and Mayer will appear on all three lists. But they have combined for just 249 Triple-A plate appearances and Mayer didn’t play a game at Worcester after his promotion Aug. 12 because of a lumbar strain.
The Red Sox prefer all three prospects — who should all earn non-roster spring training invites — to receive some more development time. The organization has taken a conservative approach with its prospects, a philosophy that dates back to Chaim Bloom’s tenure as chief baseball officer. Former president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski acted more aggressively, promoting Andrew Benintendi and Yoan Moncada straight from Double A to the majors.
The 22-year-old Campbell has arguably the best chance of the three to make the Opening Day roster based on a few factors.
First, he made the strongest case for a September call-up last year, even though the Red Sox didn’t give him serious consideration because of their conservative approach with prospects.
He made a lot of sense last September though not only because he was hottest hitter in the minors (he eventually won 2024 Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year) but also because he would have filled a need as a right-handed hitter. Boston went 17-26 against left-handed starters and ranked 12th in the majors in slugging vs. lefties (.409).
As the roster stands right now, the Red Sox are in even more need of right-handed hitters than they were in September. Tyler O’Neill, their top right-handed hitter last year, signed in free agency with the Orioles after he crushed 31 homers in 113 games for Boston.
The Red Sox are still expected to add a right-handed hitter this offseason but the options are dwindling with spring training nearly a month away.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has emphasized that the he not only needs to replace O’Neill’s production but the team also must receive more production against lefties from right-handed hitters already in the organization.
Campbell is an internal option. He batted .341 with a .465 on-base percentage, .527 slugging percentage and .992 OPS in 114 plate appearances vs. lefties last year combined between High-A Greenville, Double-A Portland and Worcester.
Being a right-handed hitting middle infielder also bodes well for him receiving an early-season promotion.
Second base remains a question mark. It’s possible Boston will still sign or trade for a second baseman. Third baseman Alex Bregman remains available as a free agent and Boston, which has some interest, envisions him as a second baseman if it were to sign him. But an internal divide exists within the organization. Manager Alex Cora and president Sam Kennedy are in favor of signing him. Breslow is not as convinced.
Vaughn Grissom, a right-handed hitter, is the leading second base candidate on the current 40-man roster, which also includes David Hamilton, Romy Gonzalez and Nick Sogard.
Could Campbell beat out all those players, including Grissom, if he tears it up during Grapefruit League action? Sure. That’s not inconceivable. Grissom has been working this offseason to build strength after multiple IL stints last year due to injuries to both hamstrings. He had a strong finish to 2024 but he’s not penciled in at second base with as much certainty as he was when spring training opened last year.
Ceddanne Rafaela also remains a second base option but Breslow has said the team wants to keep him in center field “as much as possible.” He finished with 12 defensive runs saved in 631 ⅓ innings in center last year and boasts Gold Glove potential. The Red Sox probably would be wasting his defensive value at second base.
A hot start for Campbell at Worcester and lack of production at second base in Boston to begin the season obviously could land Campbell in the majors early in the season.
Campbell made starts at shortstop, center field, second base and third base last year. He led all Red Sox minor leaguers with 55 extra-base hits (20 homers, 32 doubles and three triples). He batted .330 with a .439 on-base percentage, .558 slugging percentage and .997 OPS in 115 games (517 plate appearances). He posted a .286/.412/.486/.898 line in 19 games at Worcester to finish off the season.
The Red Sox feel good about Campbell playing both the infield and outfield. That versatility makes him even more likely to beat the other two members of the Big Three to the majors, especially with him being a right-handed hitter. Both Mayer and Anthony hit from the left side.
As of now, the most likely starting Opening Day outfield will be Jarren Duran in left, Rafaela in center and Wilyer Abreu in right.
Anthony still is only 20 (turns 21 in May) and there’s no reason to rush him. That said, he’s so talented he eventually will force his way to the majors in 2025 and it could happen within the first two months of the season.
With the Red Sox strong in center field and right field (and with a left-handed heavy lineup), there’s no reason to rush him.
Mayer likely will be the third member of the Big Three to make his MLB debut. As mentioned, he has yet to play a game in Triple A. The 22-year-old left-handed hitter was limited to 78 games in 2023 and 77 games in 2024 because of injuries. He needs to play more and could use at least a half season at Worcester.
Might any of the other prospects in the organization beat the Big Three to the majors in 2025?
MassLive ran an article earlier this season highlighting nine prospects who could debut in ‘25.
Look for right-handed pitcher Hunter Dobbins to potentially be someone who pushes for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen during camp like how Kutter Crawford did in 2022.
Dobbins, who Boston added to its 40-man roster in November, likely will begin the year in Worcester’s starting rotation. But the Red Sox have accumulated their most starting pitching depth in years. The Worcester rotation also likely will include Cooper Criswell, Richard Fitts, Quinn Priester and Michael Fulmer.
Dobbins throws hard, sitting 95-97 mph as a starter last year. His average fastball velocity possibly could even increase more in shorter bullpen stints. Because of the great starting depth, the Red Sox could consider someone like Dobbins as a multi-inning reliever to begin his career as they did with Crawford.
