Kristian Campbell’s ‘Superpower’ Bright Spot In Brutal Red Sox Loss
Tuesday night was a bad one for the 2025 Red Sox at a time when they could use some good mojo. It was, however, the latest sign that the future is bright regarding one of their budding superstars.
Boston’s bullpen collapsed multiple times Tuesday night in a crushing 11-inning loss to the Detroit Tigers. The Sox pushed a run across in the 10th to take a lead they couldn’t hold and then scored two in the 11th before Javy Baez hit a walk-off three-run home run in the 11th.
The Tigers needed every bit of the three-run dinger because Kristian Campbell provided heroics in the top half of the 11th. The Red Sox second baseman continued his impressive rookie season with one of the most impressive home runs you’re going to see.
Campbell gave Boston an 8-7 lead when he took a 97 mph sinker from Beau Brieske darting down and in and drove it with authority to right field for a two-run home run.
“It was huge,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters after the game, per MLB.com. “Tie game, two outs, that’s what he can do. I think he’s gotten away from it, driving the ball to right-center. We talked about it, that’s his superpower. He can do that. That was a tremendous swing.”
As Cora noted, Campbell needed it. The dinger was his first since April 29 against Toronto. In the eight-plus games since then before Tuesday, Campbell had been 3-for-38, all singles, with 12 strikeouts. Given how bad the Red Sox pitching staff is reeling right now, Boston needs all the help it can get on the scoreboard, and Campbell regaining the stroke that made him so good in April would be a major help.
Regardless, it continues to be an impressive freshman campaign for the 22-year-old. Campbell has five home runs with 15 RBIs through nearly 40 games. He has been a little streaky and that’s to be expected. But it has to be encouraging to see him make adjustments as he did in Detroit while continuing his on-the-job training at the highest level.
He and the Red Sox will get two major tests over the next two games, with reigning Cy Young Award winners waiting for them. Tigers ace Tarik Skubal toes the rubber Wednesday night in Detroit, and old friend Chris Sale will be waiting for the Red Sox on Friday night when the Sox open a three-game set with the Braves at Fenway Park.