The Boston Red Sox are closing in on a long-term contract extension with Kristian Campbell, according to MassLive.com. What makes this deal remarkable? Campbell has barely stepped foot in the majors, with just a few days of big-league experience after making the Opening Day roster.
At just 22 years old, Campbell was a fourth-round pick from Georgia Tech last year. He’s not eligible for free agency until after 2030, so this move isn’t about urgency – it’s about opportunity.
For Campbell, it’s simple: life-changing money now rather than later. For the Red Sox, they’re betting on his potential while locking in cost certainty for years to come.
This kind of early career extension isn’t completely unheard of.
The biggest deals ever given to players with less than one year of MLB service time include:
• Julio Rodríguez (Mariners): 12 years, $210 million
• Wander Franco (Rays): 11 years, $182 million
• Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks): 8 years, $111 million
• Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves): 8 years, $100 million
• Michael Harris (Braves): 8 years, $72 million
Carroll’s deal might be the closest comparison to Campbell’s situation. Carroll signed after just a month in the majors, while carrying elite prospect status – just like Campbell.
R.J. Anderson ranked Campbell as baseball’s third-best prospect this spring, calling him “the breakout prospect of the year.”
What changed for Campbell? He transformed his game after being drafted, adding serious power to his toolkit. After hitting just four homers in college, he cranked 20 in the minors last year after training to increase his bat speed.
His rise has been meteoric. A year ago, he wasn’t even among Boston’s top 30 prospects. Then he exploded, hitting .330 with 20 homers across three minor league levels last summer.
Campbell’s versatility is another plus. Though naturally a second baseman, he played left field Saturday night as the team tries to fit all their talent into the lineup.
This fits Boston’s recent strategy of locking up young talent early. They’ve already extended Ceddanne Rafaela (eight years, $50 million) and Brayan Bello (six years, $55 million) early in their careers.
The Red Sox might not be done, either. With elite prospects Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer still in the system, more extensions could be coming. The team envisions Mayer and Campbell as their double-play combo of the future.
Campbell is already making his mark in the majors. He blasted his first MLB homer Saturday night and is off to a scorching start, going 5-for-10 with a double, homer, and two walks in his first three games.
