Hidden Gems: 6 Underrated MLB Players Poised to Ignite a Surprising Playoff Surge
Enter — or, perhaps more accurately, reenter — Kristian Campbell.
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Campbell began the season as one of baseball’s top prospects, and the eight-year, $60 million extension he signed in April was indicative of Boston’s confidence that he could be a key contributor in the short and long term. A terrific April at the plate suggested Campbell was indeed ready to make an impact, but then he went ice-cold for a lengthy stretch, necessitating a reset in Triple-A, where he has been since mid-June. Campbell continued to scuffle initially but has been heating up over the past month, hitting .370/.465/.575 in his past 20 games with Worcester. More importantly, he has been playing first base after appearing mostly at second in the spring, hinting that he could resurface as an option there for the big-league club. Whether he’s a first baseman long-term doesn’t really matter; right now, if Campbell can play first, he can fill a need for the Red Sox down the stretch. If he can make an impact the rest of the way, it’d be a cool redemption story after his demotion, especially if he can provide the kind of spark Boston needs to return to October. —Jordan Shusterman, Yahoo Sports
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