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Kristian Campbell will break camp with the Red Sox, as KPRC 2’s Ari Alexander reports that the star prospect has been told he will be part of Boston’s Opening Day roster. A corresponding move will be made in the coming days to create room for Campbell on the 40-man roster.
Though Campbell’s Grapefruit League performance hasn’t been stellar, it was becoming increasingly obvious in recent days that the Sox were eager to see what the 22-year-old can do at the big league level. Vaughn Grissom was optioned to Triple-A a few days ago, leaving Campbell and David Hamilton as the remaining contenders for the second base job. While the left-handed hitting Hamilton will get some action against right-handed pitching, the Red Sox surely aim for Campbell to get regular playing time in his first run of action in the Show.
It has been quite a rise for Campbell, who was a fourth-round pick out of Georgia Tech in the 2023 draft and flew somewhat under the radar in prospect rankings. He started to attract attention with some big numbers in his first year of pro ball, and then gained even greater notice by being promoted all the way up the ladder to Triple-A Worcester by the end of 2024. Campbell hit .330/.439/.558 with 20 homers and 24 steals (in 32 attempts) over 517 combined plate appearances at the high-A, Double-A, and Triple-A levels, including a .898 OPS over his 85 PA with Worcester.
This spring, Campbell was ranked by Baseball America as the fourth-best prospect in the sport, and MLB Pipeline (7th) and The Athletic’s Keith Law (9th) had similarly high praise. After his college days, Campbell made some changes to his approach at the plate that transformed his hitting ability, so this make-up and maturity has impressed evaluators along with his obvious physical skills. Campbell has something of an unusual swing that still generate lots of hard contact to all fields, plus more power could still be unlocked. Campbell is a plus runner and he can play all over the diamond, as he has seen time at second base, third base, shortstop, and all three outfield positions over his minor league career.
He’ll check in as Boston’s second baseman in his first trip to the majors, thus perhaps filling a position that has been a revolving door at Fenway Park for the last few seasons. Alex Bregman was initially tapped as the next second baseman when he signed his three-year, $120MM deal with the Sox this winter, but it now looks like Bregman will play in his usual third base spot now that Rafael Devers (at least publicly) has okayed the idea of becoming a designated hitter. As MassLive’s Chris Cotillo put it, “ the Red Sox weren’t moving Rafael Devers to DH for no reason,” so the writing was on the wall that the team viewed Campbell as part of its optimal lineup.
With Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer also knocking on the door to the majors, the Red Sox have an enviable group of star prospects on the way up. It remains to be seen if Campbell will stick at second base over the long time, or if the Sox might take advantage of his versatility by trying him out at a few different positions.
Because Campbell made at least two of the top-100 prospect lists compiled by Baseball America, ESPN, and MLB Pipeline, he qualifies as a candidate for the Prospect Promotion Incentive. By starting on the Opening Day roster and spending the entire season in Boston, Campbell would earn the Sox a bonus draft pick if he wins the Rookie of the Year Award, or if he finishes in the top three in MVP voting in his first three seasons.
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Braves Make Next Major Shakeup to Staff
The Atlanta Braves have reportedly made their latest change to the staff. They have parted ways with the director of pitching development, Paul Davis, per source. A previous position that he held, before his time with the Braves, was the pitching coach of the Seattle Mariners, and he spent five years with the St. Louis Cardinals organization before that. Davis is known for his unsual path to being on a big-league staff. He never played beyond college baseball, and his coaching job with the Mariners was his first in the professional ranks. This move comes as somewhat of a surprise, given the young pitching prospects the Braves have been developing. Over the last few years, pitchers such as Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep have come through the system. He was known for his analytical approach, which included his well-regarded use of video and technology. When players arrived to the Braves system, he said in an interview back in August that his goal was to develop pitchers into champions, not just Major Leaguers. Some other rising prospects, such as JR Ritchie, can be credited as the product of his tenure. Ritchie is now a top-100 prospect. Smith-Shawver has previously been in the top 100. As of now, this is the only known move the Braves have made apart from promoting Brian Snitker to senior adviser following his retirement as manager. Coaches under Snitker still hold their positions. However, they have reportedly been granted permission to interview for other jobs. More changes are expected to come because of this permission to seek other positions with other teams. Some changes could come after years with the organization, such as pitching coach Rick Kranitz and bench coach Walt Weiss, if they were to leave, while others, such as Tim Hyers, would come after just one season, if he were to part ways. According to recent reports, the Braves have not begun to request interviews from other teams. From a managerial standpoint, only one speculative option is off the board. The Rangers promoted Skip Schumaker from senior adviser to manager. All teams with open positions, except for the Braves, inquired about Schumaker. More From Atlanta Braves on SI
Steelers Interested In Exciting 2020 Top-10 Draft Pick After Free Agent Visit
The Pittsburgh Steelers are always looking to improve their roster. That was seen throughout the 2025 offseason with the amount of transactions General Manager Omar Khan completed, but it is also something that is a priority during the regular season. When it is in-season most teams are trying to upgrade their depth, which is something Pittsburgh will look to do as attrition continues to set in as the team plays more games. This leads to the team hosting workouts with current free agents, and even signing some, whether that be to the practice squad or to the active roster. Pittsburgh has played four games now and is coming off of its bye week in Week 5. This means the team has some injuries in various areas, and it also gives the coaching staff and Khan a better idea of where some upgrades need to occur. This means more players might be brought in for workouts, and that is exactly what happened on Wednesday as the franchise hosted two linebackers on workouts. Pittsburgh brought in Michael Barrett as well as former top-10 pick Isaiah Simmons. Simmons is a prominent name in the NFL. He was selected with the eighth overall pick back in the 2020 NFL Draft as he was picked by the Arizona Cardinals. He was considered one of the best defenders in the country during his college career at Clemson, where he won the National Championship at the end of the 2018 season. Simmons was lauded as a prospect coming into the NFL. He was seen as a hybrid between an inside linebacker and a safety, and his athleticism was off the charts. It was noted that he needed to be put in the right situation, and the right system, in order to succeed. That never really happened. He spent just three seasons in Arizona before being traded to the New York Giants. He signed for the following season in New York, but he was not brought back after 2024. He signed with the Green Bay Packers during the 2025 offseason but did not make the final roster. The linebacker's best season came in 2022 with the Cardinals. He recorded 99 total tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Despite the successful year he was traded away. In his two seasons with the Giants he played in all 34 games while starting five of them. He tallied 71 total tackles, a pick six, and a sack during that time. Simmons has shown flashes throughout his career, but he has never been able to remain consistent enough to find his footing in the NFL. He is fighting to keep his career alive, and a workout in Pittsburgh could be a step in the right direction. Steelers Could Add Quality Depth By Signing Isaiah Simmons If Simmons were to sign in Pittsburgh, it would probably begin with him on the practice squad. He could get elevated if injuries occur, but there is no reason to believe that he would be a major contributor for the Steelers defense in 2025. He has versatility which is something Pittsburgh always appreciates, and his experience playing both linebacker and safety would make him a prime candidate to be on the field on obvious passing downs. If Pittsburgh can find a way to unlock the first-round talent that Simmons once had, this would be a great move. But it is hard to look at this as anything more than adding some depth to a defense that has been beat up so far during the 2025 season. The Steelers could also continue their research into former first round picks by taking a look at recently-released wide receiver Treylon Burks.
Browns Announce Myles Garrett News Ahead of Steelers Game
The Cleveland Browns are 1-4 on the season and just underwent a big change after they traded veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, ahead of their Week 6 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, they are facing some issues with their roster. On Wednesday, the Browns released their injury/participation report for their latest practice. One player (Shelby Harris) did not participate due to rest, while nine had limited participation due to various reasons. Among the players who were limited was Cleveland defensive star Myles Garrett, who is still nursing a nagging ankle injury. It's worth noting that Garrett missed a practice and was limited in two leading up to their Week 5 game against the Minnesota Vikings. With that said, there were concerns about his availability for the contest. The good news is that Garrett was able to play, recording three tackles in the 21-17 Cleveland loss. Sure enough, Garrett's condition will be worth monitoring heading into the showdown with Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers. Garrett's defense remains a big weapon on a Browns team that is still figuring out its offense and quarterback of the future. The one-time Defensive Player of the Year already has 21 combined tackles, eight tackles for loss, eight QB hits and four sacks. Even Rodgers himself admitted that the Steelers are wary of Garrett, whom he described as "one of the few players in the league" that "you game plan for and you watch the film," per 93.7 The Fan. The Browns really need Garrett to be at 100% if they want to beat the Steelers in Week 6. If he continues to be bothered by his ankle injury, it could spell trouble for the team once again. Cleveland plays Pittsburgh on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium.
Young Bucks guard gets glowing endorsement from Giannis Antetokounmpo
Ryan Rollins is just 23 years old, with less than 1,000 minutes of action on an NBA floor, but he is slated to be a major part of the Milwaukee Bucks’ backcourt this season. Splitting time between the one and two, playing lockdown defense while tasked with growing as a playmaker, he has a lot on his shoulders. Doc Rivers has already said how excited he is to see what Rollins can do. Now, Giannis Antetokounmpo has signed his own name to the Rollins’ hype train, a major vote of confidence for the young Toledo alum. Rollins has already made major strides from last season Coming out of the unheralded Toledo basketball program as the 44th pick in 2022 is part of Rollins’ underdog story. He broke his foot as a rookie in Golden State and saw his first real chance last year for the Bucks. He made the most of it, starting 19 games and going from a two-way to a standard contract by season’s end. He did all of it playing through a shoulder injury. In free agency, the Bucks gave him a deal for three years and $12 million. The head coach, the front office, and the face of the franchise are all behind Rollins in staunch support. In Giannis’s media availability Wednesday, reporters asked him for his thoughts on his teammate. “I love, I love, I love Ryan Rollins. He’s improved a lot this year. His confidence is at an all-time high right now. That’s the first thing I noticed. Playing with great pace, able to get downhill, makes incredible reads either for himself or the way he creates for open threes,” Giannis said. “Defensively he’s always solid, always going to get his hands into the ball, always going to his hands very, very well. He’s a great rebounder. He’s definitely taken a step from last year.” Rollins proved last year that he can hit open looks and play excellent defense. He has shown glimpses as a creator, but that is the area in which he has the most room to grow, particularly as a member of the point guard rotation. Hearing Giannis gush over his aggression and decision making is almost too much to take for Bucks fans already high on Rollins as a breakout candidate. Rollins has a real shot to break the starting unit at some point this season. That could be at point guard if Kevin Porter Jr. starts slow, or at the two if Rivers decides to use AJ Green or Gary Trent Jr. off the bench while using the other as a small-ball three. However the Bucks deploy Rollins, Antetokounmpo’s praise should only pique fan enthusiasm more. “I’m excited,” Giannis added. “I don’t know if he’s going to be in the starting lineup or come off the bench, but he’s definitely going to be a big piece of our team.”
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