Alex Cora Critiques Kristian Campbell’s Winter Ball Struggles

Kristian Campbell’s winter ball stint in Puerto Rico isn’t really about box scores. It’s about trying to build a hitter who can actually stick in the majors.

After a bumpy 2025 campaign—he flashed promise, faded, then regrouped in Triple-A—the Boston Red Sox are treating this offseason as a kind of laboratory for adjustments. Manager Alex Cora is watching him up close for Criollos de Caguas.

Kristian Campbell’s Roller-Coaster 2025 Season

Campbell’s year with the Red Sox had all the ups and downs you’d expect from a rookie. There was early buzz, that inevitable adjustment period, and a hard lesson about how quickly big league pitchers can find holes in a swing.

Boston got a look at why he’s a top prospect. But they also saw how far he still has to go.

Hot Start, Harsh Reality

He opened his big league tenure looking like a long-term piece. His bat speed, athleticism, and willingness to attack early in counts really gave pitchers trouble at first.

For a few weeks, it even seemed like Boston had fast-tracked a future lineup mainstay. Then came the counterpunch.

Once the league gathered some data on his swing and approach, pitchers changed how they attacked him—more soft stuff away, trickier tunneling, and fewer mistakes in his wheelhouse. Campbell’s production cooled off. His confidence got tested.

By June, the Red Sox sent him back to Triple-A. Tough call, but probably the right one.

The Triple-A Reset and Offseason Philosophy

After the demotion, Campbell shifted focus from just surviving in the majors to actually refining his game. Boston’s player development folks kept hammering on process over results.

That theme has carried right into his winter ball assignment.

Adjustments Over Averages

In Puerto Rico, Campbell’s numbers don’t exactly jump off the page—a .214 average through eight games. But Cora keeps saying it: the stat line isn’t the story right now.

The focus is on:

The Red Sox view this winter as part of his development, not an audition. They’re taking a measured approach and not freaking out over small-sample stats in a foreign league.

Why Winter Ball Matters for Campbell’s Future

For a 23-year-old still learning to handle professional pitching, winter ball offers real reps against experienced arms. It’s a proving ground—if you lean into it, it can really speed up your learning curve.

Cora’s Hands-On Role in Puerto Rico

Having Alex Cora manage Campbell in Puerto Rico gives Boston a real edge. Cora isn’t just filling out lineups; he’s running a live evaluation and teaching lab for one of the team’s most important young players.

Cora and the winter ball staff are digging into the details:

All that feedback gives the Red Sox a much richer picture than any winter box score ever could.

A Crowded Outfield and an Uncertain Timeline

The bigger picture makes Campbell’s growth even more important. Boston’s outfield is already crowded, which makes his path back to Fenway a bit complicated.

What Campbell Must Do to Force the Issue

The Red Sox see Campbell as an outfielder long term. They won’t just hand him a spot based on potential.

The timeline for Campbell’s return to the majors? It’s open-ended, with no set date—just performance checkpoints. He’s only 23, so there’s time, but not forever.

This winter, Puerto Rico’s his classroom. The Red Sox are watching—not for perfection, but for progress. Isn’t that always the case with prospects?

 
Here is the source article for this story: Alex Cora Drops Truth Bomb On Kristian Campbell’s Winter Ball Struggles