The Red Sox rookie made some history yesterday
You may have heard this during the Opening Day broadcast: At 22 years, 272 days old, Kristian Campbell is the youngest Red Sox player to make their MLB debut in the Opening Day starting lineup since Joe Lahoud in 1968 (20 years, 363 days), who was the first Arab-American to play in the big leagues.
That is truly an amazing fun fact. The Red Sox have had a lot of prospects over the years who have come up to rave reviews. Some have succeeded right away, others struggled. But the combination of youth and Opening Day is what really sets Campbell apart.
You might say “why didn’t he make his debut last year?” and for many Red Sox players the summer before is exactly when they get their first call up. Back in the 40-man roster September days it was an especially good time to sneak in a few appearances on the mound or at the plate.
On August 31, 1996 Nomar Garciapara debuted at 23 years and 39 days. He would be joined by fellow rookie Trot Nixon on September 21 (22 years, 163 days).
Kevin Youkilis would make his debut on May 15, 2004 at the ripe old age of 25 years, 61 days. Even with that later debut, a killer nickname, and Moneyball fame it wasn’t like the job was his. He’d have to fight for playing time in 2005 as well.
Dustin Pedroia was called up August 22, 2006 (23 years, 5 days) before his Rookie of the Year 2007.
Jonathan Papelbon? July 31, 2005 at 24 years, 250 days. A trade deadline debut start. His start was almost overshadowed by a Manny Ramirez trade during the game. But it didn’t happen.
Photo by John Bohn/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Jon Lester (June 10, 2006 at 22 year, 154 days) came up at a slightly younger age than Campbell but he did it mid-year.
Will Middlebrooks, former third baseman and current NESN broadcaster, came up on May 2, 2012 at 23 years 236 days. That’s just a month into the season and Bobby Valentine really wanted to get him on the roster but he’d have already been three years older than the record holder, which, among prospects, is an eternity.
Rafael Devers was a relative baby at 20 years, 274 days for his July 25, 2017 debut. Now we’re talking!
Tanner Houck (September 15, 2020 ant 24 years, 78 days) and Jarren Duran (July 17, 2021 at 24 years, 315 days) split the difference with fall and mid-summer debuts during the age 24 seasons.
Ceddanne Rafaela was there for Opening Day 2024 but he’d made his debut Aught 28, 2023 at 22 years, 344 days. So he’d have needed to come up a few months earlier to get his shot at the fun fact.
But back to Kristian Campbell. You might still be wondering why he didn’t get a 2024 cup of coffee. Well, he was only drafted in 2023 and still spent time that summer in both Rookie ball and with the A+ Greenville Drive. He’d start 2024 in Greenville where he would play another 40 games. Then 56 for the Portland SeaDogs. And finally 19 games for the Worcester Red Sox. Even if Triple-A isn’t the stop to the majors it was in the past, with some guys debuting straight from Double A, that’s simply not a long time in professional baseball.
Roman Anthony is not yet 21 (he born two days before Youk made his MLB debut) so he could pull the trick next year…but he probably gets gets called up this year. That’s impressive in a totally different light.
But at the end of the day, making the MLB roster after one full year in pro ball is amazing. Campbell collecting his first hit, with his family in the stands, on Opening Day, was the cherry on that sundae.