By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk
FENWAY – In 2023, infielder Kristian Campbell hit .309 for the Sox High-A Greenville ball club. He hit his first MiLB homer that August 27th and things were looking good. In 2024, things looked even brighter. Campbell hit .330 for a combo of Greenville (High-A), Portland (Double-AA) and Worcester (Triple AAA). He was named Baseball America’s and USA Today’s minor league Player of the Year.
On March 27, 2025, Campbell became the first non-Japanese Red Sox player to make his Major League Baseball debut and start on Opening Day in 25 years (Jackie Bradley Jr. in 2000).
Campbell was the first of a “Little Big 3” the Red Sox would be entertaining at the MLB level, with both infielder Marcelo Mayer and outfielder/slugger Roman Anthony, the power and long ball hitter of the bunch, soon to join the show. The future of the Red Sox was right then, the same as it is right now.
It all seemed like a lock, especially when Campbell signed an eight-year, $60 million contract. But, Campbell has toiled in the Sox MiLB system – playing winter ball in Puerto Rico and doing the I90 shuffle out at Polar Park Worcester. He’s played 85 games for the Exit 19s in 2026, and is currently batting .246 (as of August 4) but he leads the team in strike-outs with 107.
All three of the “Little Big 3” have struggled mightily this season. Anthony got off to a very slow start but was batting lead-off for the Red Sox as they broke Spring Training camp. But, he’s been out since May 5, recovering from a partially torn tendon in his right hand and wrist.
Mayer is another story, altogether, as he is gone. He had struggled all season, begging to find some consistency at the plate, but instead, he was traded Monday for Eric Miller, San Francisco’s left-handed closer who will be added to strengthen and deepen the 7-8-9th inning Boston bullpen.
Mayer, 23, played in 70 games for Boston this season, hitting .220 (45-for-205) with 19 runs scored, 10 doubles, three home runs, and 22 RBI while making 39 starts at second base and 20 at shortstop. The left-handed hitter was placed on the 10-Day Injured List on June 26 with a bone stress reaction to the left ulna.
With the trade, Boston’s “Big 3” has become the “One and Done,” sticking with the basketball phraseology. Campbell toils with the WooSox, Mayer heads west as a young man with nothing but potential in his suitcase. Meanwhile, Anthony remains the mystery man, with no timetable for return, if any.
The Red Sox are rounding second and heading for third as post trade deadline day leads to only the true dog days of August, and then the stretch from third to home and a (very) possible postseason berth. All it took was a 15-game winning streak and a sweep of the LA Dodgers with a 6-1 west coast road trip upon return to Fenway Park which still has visions of Phish dancing in our heads.
Boston takes on that stretch with six of their best, whether in the starting lineup or acting as key reserve players either on the injured list or close to it:
- Newly acquired utility man Curtis Mead on IL (left wrist fracture)
- Newly acquired all-star level catch Adley Rutschman (left wrist inflammation)
- Starting pitcher/ace Garrett Crochet (shoulder and lateral issues) has August 25 circled for potential target date for return
- Shortstop Trevor Story (sports hernia) on the road to recovery
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa (left forearm) could be back in 10 days
- Slugger OF Roman Anthony (right ring finger/wrist injury) and has not resumed swinging a bat, but has been working out regularly.
- Now, it’s left for interim manager Chad Tracy to piece together as he’s done since former manager Alex Cora was fired on April 26th.
The one name that shouldn’t return to Worcester, at any time, is Tracy who squarely deserves a full-time designation instead of interim, a major league level bump in salary and the thanks of a grateful GM, Craig Breslow, as Tracy played a major role in saving both of their jobs.