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BOSTON -- If you want to talk about tearing it up after a promotion to Triple-A, the Red Sox have two exciting prospects who fit into that category in Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell, and they are whetting the appetite of fans who want to see them perform at Fenway Park.
While that isn’t likely to happen until next season, that duo has been downright dynamic for Worcester.
Anthony, the No. 2 ranked prospect for the Red Sox per MLB Pipeline, climbed the ladder to Triple-A along with the two other members of Boston’s big three (No. 1 Marcelo Mayer and No. 3 Kyle Teel) on Aug. 12.
The fast-rising Campbell, the No. 5 prospect for the Red Sox, moved from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland on June 4, and then to Worcester on Aug. 20.
At times, Anthony and Campbell bat 1-2 for Worcester, most recently doing so on Wednesday night.
In his first 14 games at the highest level of the Minors, the left-handed-hitting Anthony has a line of .362/.431/.621 with four doubles, one triple, three homers and nine RBIs. This, from a player who was taken as a compensatory second-round pick out of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland, Fla.) just two years ago.
Then there is Campbell, drafted last year as a compensatory fourth-round selection out of Georgia Tech. In the right-handed-hitting Campbell’s first seven games for Worcester, his line is .345/.441/.690 with a double, three homers and 12 RBIs.
Don’t blink, or you’ll miss the next step in their swift developments.
Though Anthony didn’t play college baseball, his maturity has stood out since his move to Triple-A. What has impressed Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham most about the 20-year-old outfielder?
“His ability to maintain a routine, his work, while also balancing improved competition,” Abraham said. “He continues to be able to make adjustments pitch to pitch on both sides of the ball and sticks to his plan/approach understanding his process will ultimately get the results he wants.”
What about the 22-year-old Campbell?
“His willingness to challenge himself, handle failure, make adjustments and trust the work he’s putting in toward the player goals he is hoping to achieve as a hitter, defender and baserunner,” said Abraham.
Heading into the season, Campbell was the No. 30 prospect for the Red Sox, per MLB Pipeline. How has he come on so fast?
“His focus on the offseason this past year -- making some mechanical and approach adjustments while getting a better understanding of who he is and what he can do at the plate with focus on particular offensive areas,” Abraham said. “He added strength, bat speed, and with already a strong understanding of the strike zone, his consistent approach has led to success at each level.”
Though Anthony has gotten a lot of notice for his offensive prowess, the Red Sox also like what they are seeing from him in the outfield.
“He continues to improve his range, his ability to get to the baseball -- which really is the key to being a successful defender,” said Abraham. “He has shown improved versatility by playing all three outfield spots. He constantly looks to learn and make adjustments even in small areas to improve his overall game.”
The beauty of Campbell on offense is, according to Abraham, “his ability to barrel the baseball and consistently hit it hard.”
Defensively, Campbell is one of those invaluable athletes who can handle all the most athletic positions on the field. He has started 25 games or more this season at second base, shortstop and center field.
Here are some other happenings on the farm for the Red Sox.
Double-A Portland: Mikey Romero, Boston’s first rounder from 2022, is finally over a back injury that limited him to 34 games last season and prevented his ’24 season from starting until May 7. He is making up for lost time. On Wednesday night, the team’s No. 16 prospect went deep in just his second game for Portland.
High-A Greenville: No. 8 prospect Miguel Bleis is still searching for consistency, but he’s gotten hot again of late. He had a big game on Tuesday night, belting three hits, including a double and a homer, two runs and a stolen base.
Single-A Salem: Matt Duffy, a fourth-round pick out of Canisius in 2023, is having a solid first full pro season. In 20 outings, including 19 starts, Duffy has a 3.12 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. In 89 1/3 innings, he has 26 walks and 86 strikeouts, holding opponents to a .226 average.