Red Sox announce 8-year extension for rookie Kristian Campbell

Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald on Apr 2, 2025

Published in Baseball

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The Red Sox didn’t waste any time securing rookie Kristian Campbell for the long haul.

Less than a week after the versatile top prospect made his major league debut on Opening Day, the team announced that they were in agreement on an eight-year extension through 2032, with club options for ’33 and ’34.

Campbell, 22, is guaranteed $60 million and will receive a $2 million signing bonus, a source confirmed to the Boston Herald. However, according to several reports, including MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the contract includes escalators that could balloon the total value to nearly $100 million; the two club options are worth $19 and $21 million, respectively.

It’s been a rapid, meteoric rise for Campbell, who earlier this week confirmed to reporters that his agents were in ongoing negotiations with the Red Sox. Boston selected him out of Georgia Tech in the fourth round of the ’23 June draft with the compensation pick they received from the San Diego Padres when they signed Xander Bogaerts. Playing his first full professional season last year, Campbell earned two promotions, moving from High-A (40 games) to Double-A (56 games), to Triple-A (19 games). He finished the year with a .330 batting average, 142 hits (32 doubles, three triples, 20 home runs), 94 runs, and 77 RBIs.

He raked in the awards, too, winning MiLB Hitting Prospect of the Year and Breakout Player of the Year, Baseball America’s Minor League POTY, Double-A Eastern League MVP, and Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Year. He entered this season as Baseball America’s No. 4 overall prospect, and ranked No. 6 by MLB Pipeline.

Months before they issued his non-roster invite to big league spring training, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow made it known that Campbell was a candidate for a spot on the Opening Day. After spending the entire preseason competing for a spot, Campbell found out he made the cut Sunday evening of last week, after the team’s final Grapefruit League contest.

Only five games into his major league career, Campbell has been one of the only bright spots for an ice-cold Red Sox offense. He had a storybook moment in his debut on Opening Day, collecting his first career hit as his family and girlfriend cheered from the stands; they were also present later in the weekend when he blasted his first big league home run. Campbell entered Wednesday 6 for 16 (.375) on the season, with two doubles, the aforementioned homer, four runs, two RBIs, four walks and five strikeouts. He and Jarren Duran are tied for second-most hits on the team, right behind Wilyer Abreu (7).

It’s club’s second long-term extension this week, following their six-year, $170 million agreement with left-hander Garrett Crochet on Monday. The Red Sox also began last season with a pair of long-term extensions for young rising stars, right-hander Brayan Bello and outfielder/middle infielder Ceddanne Rafaela. Campbell’s deal is comparable to the latter; Rafaela signed an eight-year, $50 million contract after less than 50 days of major league service time. Campbell’s, however, sets a new franchise record for earliest long-term commitment to a player.

Despite beginning the season 1-4 and on a four-game losing streak, the Red Sox aren’t deviating from the clear ‘Win Now’ mode they’ve been in since the offseason began. They were already over the first Competitive Balance Threshold before reaching agreements with Crochet and Campbell, and the latter’s deal is a significant addition; instead of the major league minimum — $760K this year — Campbell now counts for $7.5 million toward this year’s luxury tax payroll.

Crochet and Campbell will have official media availabilities during the team’s home-opener series with the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park this weekend. Crochet is currently scheduled for Friday — the home opener — with Campbell the next day.