Kristian Campbell's spring training reflections
ARLINGTON, Texas - In many ways, this was a perfect day for Kristian Campbell.
At 22 years and 272 days old, he became the youngest Red Sox player to make their MLB debut in the Opening Day starting lineup since Joe Lahoud in 1968.
He got his first big-league hit, rocketing a 102.2 mph grounder off the glove of Texas third baseman Josh Jung.
And, to top it all off, his team won, claiming a 5-2 victory over the Rangers at Globe Life Field Thursday.
With his family in the stands, it was everything the kid who started last season in Single-A could have hoped for.
"The second half I started settling in. The first half I was definitely nervous," Campbell said. "I was definitely emotional, too, during the National Anthem. I had some tears just thinking about family and how far I have come. I was definitely emotional the first half of the game, trying to keep myself together."
But while many were reminded why Campbell is playing second base for the Red sox, they were also provided another unexpected bonus: The reminder that even a big leaguer like the kid from Georgia can view this whole scene in the kind of innocent fashion many have long left behind.
"I just really focus on baseball. That’s all I’ve been focusing on. Taking in what happens each day and enjoying it. And competing and getting that win was big," he said.
"It’s crazy. It was a lot today. It was the most people I have ever played in front of. I definitely didn’t feel anything for the first half of the game. And then in the second half I was able to settle in a little bit better. It was definitely something to get used to."
So much to get used to.
As the Red Sox eased into their first game of the season, manager Alex Cora introduced an example of Campbell's innocent view of his new world. Cora told the story of how his new second baseman didn't realize that he actually didn't have to have a roommate on the road, which is the case with all minor-league teams.
"I didn’t know that," Campbell said after his first MLB game. "I was looking for a roommate in Mexico because they give the cards with the room number, and I was looking for who matched with mine. But we don’t have roommates. I found that out."
What else has caught Campbell off guard?
"That we have our own plane to travel on. That’s different," he said. "I didn’t know that. I was asking some of the guys, ‘Hey, do we fly like in Triple-A?’ Because we were leaving late from Mexico and the airport wasn’t going to be open. But we have our own plane. Just being on the plane with the guys, that’s cool. Just talking and stuff."
And the surprises kept coming after the win thanks to a most subtle tradition for those securing their first big-league hit: Putting the ball in a sanitary sock for safe keeping.
"I didn’t know that was a thing," said Campbell, who was preparing to give the ball to his waiting parents. "It was just really cool. I really enjoyed it."
Yes, life in the big leagues has already been eye-opening for the former fourth-round pick. And it's not only off the field. In the ninth inning after getting that first hit, he experienced another first. With David Hamilton coming out to run for him, it marked the first time in Campbell's life he had ever been pinch-run for.
"That was the first time. I’m fast, but we have faster guys. I have never been pinch-run for," he said. "That’s the first time. It makes sense at the end of the game. You have to get those runs in. We didn’t know that home run was going to happen. But Hammy is fast."
There will be more. New pitchers. New struggles. New accomplishments.
But, as the Campbell and the Red Sox showed on Day 1 of the 2025 season, there's nothing wrong with a little new.