One of the vital enjoyable issues about spring coaching is the annual emergence of 1 younger participant who makes the entire camp his personal. Two years in the past it was Ceddanne Rafaela. Final 12 months it was Marcelo Mayer. This 12 months might it’s Kristian Campbell, somebody who has already received a participant of the month award on the MLB stage? After an odd and in the end disappointing rookie 12 months, Campbell is again looking for a spot for himself within the huge leagues. And whereas he admits that he was nervous final 12 months, he thinks this spring goes to be totally different. This 12 months, I really feel like I’m much more below management and calm. I do know what’s occurring round me. I do know extra individuals within the locker room this 12 months. It’s a greater setting, for positive, for me, personally. I really feel much more comfy.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
Campbell most likely will be capable to fly below the radar a bit this 12 months. A lot of the spring coaching consideration falls on the brand new faces, and the Sox have loads of them, particularly on the mound. And a type of new faces, Sonny Grey, says that, “on paper,” this Purple Sox rotation is one of the best one he’s ever been part of. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
Johan Oviedo is one other a type of new faces, although in his case it looks like he’s within the media shadow of each Grey and Ranger Suárez. He’s additionally already actually near at the very least one in all his new teammates as, even earlier than he was traded he Boston, he spent the winter understanding together with his countryman Aroldis Chapman. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
And talking of being within the shadow of larger names, what number of baseball followers even understand that Patrick Sandoval is on the Sox this 12 months? Proper now, it’s wanting unlikely that the person who as soon as led the league in shutouts (with, uhh, one) will begin the season within the Purple Sox rotation, each as a result of there’s a number of competitors and since he hasn’t thrown a aggressive pitch in a looooooooong time. However he looks like he’s getting nearer. (Sean McAdam, MassLive)
I feel most individuals assume that Oviedo has the within edge on the fifth rotation spot, if for no different purpose than that the Sox gave up rather a lot to get him. However in keeping with Craig Breslow, there might be competitors for the function this spring, together with not solely Oviedo and Sandoval but in addition Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, and Kutter Crawford. (Tyler Maher, NESN)
The Sox have so many new pitchers that Brayan Bello is now the most-tenured man within the beginning rotation (most tenured in a Sox uniform, that’s.) That appears wild given that almost all followers nonetheless factor of him as a younger arm who is continuous to hone his sport. Working example, he lately obtained some pitch grip tutelage from Ranger Suárez. (Lauren Campbell, MassLive)
And on the opposite facet of the ball, Trevor Story is now the second-most tenured place participant. Which is why he’s being known as “unc” by the youngsters. (Ian Browne, MLB.com)
Unc will open the 2026 season with a completely new infield than the he opened 2025 with. Marcelo Mayer and Caleb Durbin might be within the infield someplace, however at what positions? They’re each going to work out at each second and third for now, and Alex Cora doesn’t appear too pressured about it: “We went by this dance final 12 months. I understand how to bounce it. Simply be affected person.” (Kaley Brown, Boston.com)
