It’s Payton Tolle’s world and we’re just living in it. The Boston Red Sox prospect is perhaps the most intriguing player in the team’s farm system.
Tolle is the club’s No. 2 prospect according to updated rankings released this week by MLB Pipeline and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel.
Those accolades came days after Tolle made his Triple-A debut. And it might not be much longer before he’s taking the mound at Fenway Park, which would be unprecedented since he started the 2025 season in Single-A.
“Tolle is the organization’s top-rated pitching prospect and the Sox might want to be cautious with his development,” Masslive.com’s Sean McAdam wrote Friday.
“It might be more likely for Tolle to be utilized in a spot start for matchup purposes. If the Sox suffer a rainout and have to find a sixth starter, it’s not hard to envision Tolle being plugged in for a spot start before being returned to Worcester to finish out the season,” McAdam added.
The 22-year-old made his WooSox debut Sunday. Taking the mound for Worcester, Tolle went five innings in the 6-3 loss to the Buffalo Bisons.
The lefty struggled out of the gate, giving up all six runs in the first inning. A grand slam followed by a two-run homer put the WooSox in a hole early.
But Tolle bounced back, shutting Buffalo down the next four innings. He left the mound after throwing 72 pitches, including 53 for strikes as he whiffed three Bisons.
Tolle started this season with High-A Greenville, where he went 1-3 with a 3.62 ERA in 11 games (10 starts). He struck out 79 batters in 49 2/3 innings pitched.
The Red Sox promoted the 2024 second-round draft pick to Double-A Portland in June. He went 1-1 with a 1.67 ERA in six games (5 starts) and struck out 37 batters in 27 innings, earning a surprising bump to Triple-A Worcester earlier this month.
Should Boston need a spot starter and not want to rush Tolle, McAdam suggested Kyle Harrison could be the next man up.
“Harrison would also give the Red Sox another lefty in the rotation – currently, Garrett Crochet is the only southpaw — which could provide an interesting matchup with, say, the lefty-leaning New York Yankees next week,” McAdam wrote.
The New England Patriots defense could not sustain its momentum from Wednesday into Thursday’s joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota’s starting offense controlled much of the day, as second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy completed 16 of 20 passes in team drills and connected on 11 straight throws during one stretch, according to Doug Kyed and Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. His afternoon included a late touchdown that capped a sharp two-minute drive.
New England played without safety Jabrill Peppers and cornerback Christian Gonzalez in 11-on-11 sessions, and the Vikings capitalized. Jordan Addison, Aaron Jones and T.J. Hockenson each found openings, while the Patriots’ pass rush produced little after dominating the previous day.
“It’s OK, it happens. We’ll go back to the drawing board, correct what we’ve got to correct and move forward,” safety Jaylinn Hawkins said, via the Herald.
Minnesota’s physical front and varied looks challenged both sides of the ball, with protection issues also hampering quarterback Drake Maye, according to Nicole Yang of The Boston Globe. McCarthy extended plays when necessary, taking advantage of breakdowns in containment and delivering well-placed throws into tight windows.
Head coach Mike Vrabel reminded the defense after practice that “we haven’t arrived. We’ve got a lot to work towards, and we’ve got to keep on going to our goal,” Hawkins said, as transcribed by Bob Socci of 98.5 The Sports Hub.
With just under three weeks before the opener, the Patriots still have time to correct course, but Thursday underscored that consistency will be just as important as raw talent in defining their early-season identity.
How much would you pay to see Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz back in the batter’s box? Or Manny Ramirez taking aim at the Green Monster?
Last month, the Milwaukee Brewers hosted an alumni home run derby, with former stars such as Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun stepping to the plate. Among the clubs who followed with interest was the Red Sox.
“(I)t it is known that the team was enthralled with the idea and have begun discussing the possibility for staging a similar event next season,” Masslive.com’s Sean McAdam reported Friday.
“The Red Sox are leaning toward making this a ‘stand-alone’ event, meaning it would take place either on an off-day or when the team is playing on the road,” McAdam continued.
“One scenario under consideration would be a post-event concert at nearby MGM Fenway Music Hall to help attract players. The planning hasn’t advanced much beyond that, as there’s still plenty of time to map something out for 2026,” McAdam added.
Should the Red Sox make this happen, there’s no doubt that Ortiz and Ramirez would be the two biggest draws. Ortiz, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, hit 541 home runs during his 20-year MLB career.
The 10-time All-Star set the Red Sox single-season record with 54 home runs in 2006. Believe it or not, that was the only year that Ortiz led the American League in home runs. “Big Papi” also won the 2010 Home Run Derby.
Ramirez, a 12-time All-Star, hit 555 home runs during his 19-year career. Multiple suspensions for performance-enhancing drugs have eroded his Hall-of-Fame chances.
But the nine-time Silver Slugger Award winner was a hitting savant and led the AL with 43 home runs in 2004.
The Boston Red Sox enter the final stretch of the 2025 season in position to control their playoff destiny.
At 66-56 with 40 games left, Boston holds the American League’s second wild card spot and is aiming for its first postseason berth in four years.
“We have officially reached the three-quarters mark of the MLB season, and everything the Red Sox hope to achieve is still there for the taking,” Mac Cerullo wrote for the Boston Herald. FanGraphs pegs their playoff odds at 73.4%, and a .500 finish would put them on pace to match last year’s 86-win playoff cutline, Cerullo writes.
The turnaround has been notable. After falling five games under .500 on June 6, Boston surged to a 36-21 record since, surviving a post-All-Star gauntlet that featured six of eight series against contenders.
Now the schedule tilts in their favor — 24 of the last 40 games will be against teams with losing records. That stretch includes multiple series against the Baltimore Orioles and Athletics, plus matchups with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays.
Still, key showdowns loom. Two late-season series with the New York Yankees — Aug. 21-24 in The Bronx and Sept. 12-14 at Fenway — could swing both the AL East and Wild Card races.
The Yankees, who have the easiest remaining schedule of any contender, will see Boston as a critical hurdle, Stephen J. Nesbitt and Chad Jennings of The Athletic wrote.
Other series to circle include Sept. 1-3 against the Cleveland Guardians, along with the final two matchups of the year: a road set against the Toronto Blue Jays that could decide the division, and a closing series at Fenway against the Detroit Tigers that may shape playoff seeding.
If the Red Sox capitalize on their softer slate, the last week of the regular season could carry stakes and excitement the club has not felt in years.
Former Boston Red Sox prospect Michael Kopech is on the comeback trail … again.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager David Roberts said Wednesday that Kopech is beginning a minor-league rehab assignment, according to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
The right-hander took the mound Thursday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, and it didn’t go well. Entering the game in the fourth inning, he gave up three runs on two hits and two walks in 2/3 of an inning pitched.
Kopech ended up taking the loss for the Comets. He threw 24 pitches, but just 10 for strikes as the Albuquerque Isotopes beat Oklahoma City, 8-5.
The 29-year-old started the 2025 season on the injured list with a shoulder injury and returned from the 60-day IL in June. He looked sharp, making eight scoreless relief appearances. That included eight strikeouts in seven innings of work.
“(B)ut something was clearly off in his final appearance, as he walked three of the four batters he faced before being lifted and placed on the injured list to inflammation in his knee,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams wrote Thursday.
“Kopech initially downplayed the severity, but once the inflammation subsided, imaging revealed a torn meniscus,” Adams added. “He underwent surgery and was quickly transferred back to the 60-day IL. He’s been on the injured list since July 1, so Kopech isn’t eligible to be activated until the very end of the month.
“It’s encouraging that he’s already setting out on a rehab stint, as he’ll have a runway of more than two weeks to build up before he’s first eligible to return,” Adams concluded.
The Red Sox selected Kopech in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft and he quickly became one of the club’s top prospects.
Kopech impressed in the minors, reaching High-A Salem in 2016, where he went 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 11 starts.
That caught the attention of the Chicago White Sox, who acquired him in the blockbuster 2016 trade that sent left-hander Chris Sale to Boston.
Chicago traded Kopech to the Dodgers in 2024 as part of a three-team deal with the St. Louis Cardinals. He then helped Los Angeles win its second World Series title in five seasons.
Kopech is 21-33 with 15 saves and a 4.11 ERA in 178 appearances over six MLB seasons.
The Boston Red Sox will square off against a pitcher weeks after trade rumors went nowhere.
Boston was frequently linked to Sandy Alcántara before the trade deadline. After the Miami Marlins starter stayed put, MLB insider Jon Heyman said the Red Sox made a concerted push to acquire the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner.
Alcántara will pitch in Fenway Park, but not for the home team. The 29-year-old draws Friday’s start to begin a three-game set between the Marlins and Red Sox.
He’ll oppose Boston’s Lucas Giolito, who’s seeking redemption after relinquishing six walks and four runs in Saturday’s 5-4 loss to the San Diego Padres.
Based on his recent returns, Red Sox fans probably aren’t too heartbroken about not attaining Alcántara. He’s continued a brutal season back from Tommy John surgery by allowing 16 hits, five walks and 11 runs in two starts since the July 31 trade deadline.
Alcántara now has a ghastly 6.55 ERA — the highest of any qualified pitcher by a full run — in 121 innings this season. He’s already surrendered a career-high 88 earned runs and has just five quality starts in 23 turns.
Given his past success and a contract that runs through 2026 with a 2027 club option, Alcántara still commanded considerable trade interest from contenders hoping to unlock the former ace. The Marlins instead held him and Edward Cabrera through the deadline.
The Red Sox won’t see Cabrera, who had allowed one earned run in four straight starts before permitting five in Thursday’s 9-4 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Cal Quantrill and Janson Junk are scheduled to pitch the weekend matchups against Brayan Bello and Garrett Crochet, giving Boston a golden opportunity to rebound from series losses to the San Diego Padres and Houston Astros.
Friday’s game begins at 7:10 p.m. ET.
The 2025 offseason has been quite busy for the Boston Celtics, but for their superstar forward Jayson Tatum, it’s likely been pretty boring. That’s because the majority of Tatum’s offseason has been geared towards working his way back from a torn Achilles.
In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks, Boston’s future was drastically altered when Tatum crumpled to the floor with the aforementioned injury. The Celtics went from being a title favorite to rebuilding on the fly.
The hope is that once Tatum eventually returns to the court, Boston will be in the best possible spot to go and chase another championship. When Tatum will return is ultimately still a mystery, but he’s been making substantial progress over the past few months.
Everything Tatum has done this offseason is geared towards healing his Achilles, which usually takes around 10-12 months to accomplish. Tatum is doing everything in his power to accelerate that timeline, and he recently shared a little more info on what that entails.
“Rehab station, lift after that,” Tatum said in a video he uploaded on his Instagram story recently. “Six days a week, bro. I ain’t in here six days a week for no reason.”
With Tatum set to miss the majority, if not all, of the 2025-26 season, the Celtics front office has been busy restructuring their roster this offseason. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were traded back in June, with Luke Kornet following them out the door in free agency.
By shedding money, the Celtics are looking to sneak back under the second apron of the NBA’s new salary cap. In doing so, they will avoid some fairly strict penalties, which will allow them to make a big push once Tatum returns.
For now, Tatum’s day-to-day features quite a bit of hard work, with seemingly no end in sight. The progress he’s making is tough to ignore, though, and before you know it, he will be back on the court starring for Boston.
It continues to look like Kyle Dugger has fallen out of favor with the New England Patriots.
Dugger’s play has declined since signing a four-year, $58 million extension in April 2024. He was from the Bill Belichick era, and it is plausible that Mike Vrabel doesn’t see him as a fit going forward. His training camp usage has, at the least, suggested they don’t view him as a starter.
Judging by Thursday’s joint practice in Minnesota, they might not view him as a reserve, either.
The Boston Globe’s Nicole Yang reported that Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers left practice early. Instead of Dugger stepping up in his place, the Patriots went with Dell Pettus.
Wrote Yang: “Safety Jabrill Peppers left practice early and did not participate in team drills. Even in his absence, Kyle Dugger remained out of the primary safety rotation with Dell Pettus instead joining Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson. Asked about potentially moving Dugger to linebacker, coach Mike Vrabel said, ‘We would consider anything to try to help the football team and help the player. That’s everything we want to try to do.'”
Trying Dugger at linebacker would make sense given his size and physical style of play. However, all sides benefit more from Dugger playing at a starting safety level as he used to. It might be wiser to move on then try to force him into a different position.
Time will tell if Dugger is able to work his way into playing time or if the Patriots can find a trade partner. If neither of those come to pass, he very well might be let go on cutdown day — something that not too long ago would’ve been hard to fathom.
From the second he took over as the New England Patriots head coach, Mike Vrabel has made it clear he’s not tolerating any nonsense this year. While that primarily applies to his team, it also applies to the media.
Early on in training camp, Vrabel drew attention for hitting back at questions from the media that he wasn’t particularly fond of. After the team’s latest joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings, Vrabel once again fired back, this time after being asked about Stefon Diggs’ injury status.
The Patriots signed Diggs to a three-year, $63.5 million contract in free agency this offseason, even though he’s recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in Week 8 last season. Diggs was cleared for the start of training camp, though, and by all accounts, he’s looked great during his time on the field.
Despite that, Diggs turned some heads when discussing his stats for Week 1, offering some murky comments on whether or not he’d play. When Vrabel was asked about what Diggs said, he immediately ripped into the reporter.
“Did you really believe that, or are you just trying to bait me into something?” Vrabel said in response to the question. “I don’t know the context in which he said it, but you’d have to help me. I mean, he’s been out here almost every day. I’m excited at where he’s at, and we’ll see when Week 1 comes.”
Based on this response, it seems like Vrabel is expecting Diggs to be on the field for the Pats in Week 1, given that he’s been on the field pretty much every day for training camp. He wasn’t willing to get into what he did or didn’t say, though, leading to this response.
At the end of the day, Vrabel and the rest of the coaching staff are going to work on getting the entire team ready for the start of the season. If Diggs can play, he’ll be on the field, but if he can’t, the team will be cautious with him.
This isn’t the first time Vrabel has taken aim at the media, and it probably won’t be the last either. In the meantime, the Patriots will continue to get ready for their second preseason contest, which will see them face off against the Vikings on Saturday.
Boston Red Sox prospect Jhostynxon “The Password” Garcia can’t stop hitting.
Garcia went yard again on Thursday night for the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, per Beyond the Monster:
“Jhostynxon Garcia went 3-for-5 with a home run (17) in tonight’s 13-10 Worcester Red Sox win. The 22-year-old outfielder has slashed .300/.366/.575 over 276 PA at Triple-A.”
Since being promoted to Triple-A on May 20, Garcia has 50 RBIs to go along with his 17 homers.
The 22-year-old outfield prospect, ranked No. 3 in Boston’s farm system, has started some first base prep this season in the minors, indicating that the Red Sox organization is remaining open-minded about his defensive future.
Garcia’s offensive profile is much clearer: he’s a gifted power hitter.
Here’s a segment from MLB.com’s scouting report on Garcia:
“Features some of the best strength and raw power in the system. His right-handed swing is designed to launch balls in the air … He does damage against both lefties and righties and could produce 25-30 homers per season, though he may have to tone down his aggressive approach against more advanced pitching.
Garcia is deceptively athletic despite … he’s an average defender with good instincts. He’s at least a solid defender on the corners and has the plus arm strength for right field.”
The Red Sox signed Garcia out of Venezuela in 2019. His younger brother, Johanfran, was signed by the organization in 2022.
The Boston Celtics have the easiest strength of schedule in the NBA, according to ESPN, but not everyone is buying that assessment.
Although ESPN’s metric determines that the Celtics have the easiest path, Boston’s schedule early on is no walk in the park, which is a relevant detail for a team that will be facing huge internal adjustments during that stretch.
CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning discussed this on Thursday, indicating that the Celtics’ schedule early on won’t be doing them any favors as they get used to life without Jayson Tatum.
“We don’t know who the Celtics are yet,” Manning said.
“So it’s tough to look at any opponent right now and be like, ‘All right, they got them, they don’t have them.’ We don’t even know who this team is right now.”
“It’s going to be tough for them regardless (of the schedule early on), adjusting to Tatum’s absence, figuring out who all these new guys are … everybody’s stepping into a new role.”
“And you are throwing in some tough games early between Cleveland, Detroit … the (New York) Knicks are obviously the Knicks, and then a Magic doubleheader on the road, followed by Philly, Memphis, LA. There’s some tough sledding early for a team that probably already was gonna struggle.”
The Celtics’ second game of the season — October 24 at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks — is among the five must-see games on Boston’s schedule.
Whether or not you agree with ESPN’s strength of schedule metric, one thing is true about Boston’s schedule — it features the fewest back-to-backs of any team’s schedule in the league.
Jhostynxon Garcia, come on down. You’re the next Red Sox prospect who will make his MLB debut in Boston. That’s according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel who released Thursday his updated list of the top 10 Red Sox prospects.
McDaniel’s list mirrors that of MLB Pipeline, which released an updated list of the top 30 Red Sox prospects earlier this week. Both lists start with shortstop Franklin Arias, followed by left-hander Payton Tolle and then Garcia at No. 3.
“Who could debut next: Garcia is probably next since he’s on the 40-man roster, but Tolle, (Connelly) Early and David Sandlin could all get the call if a starting pitcher is needed first,” McDaniel wrote.
“The triumvirate of Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell all graduated,” McDaniel added. “I got a lot of flack before the season for being the low guy on Campbell (“attention-seeking behavior” a few called it) despite being the high guy on him in the 2023 draft, but weirdly nobody came back to apologize.
“Arias and Tolle emerged while Garcia, Early, (Justin) Gonzales, (Brandon) Clarke and (Dorian) Soto also took steps forward. (Kyson) Witherspoon was added in the draft and James Tibbs was added then subtracted via trade,” McDaniel added.
The Red Sox acquired Tibbs from the San Francisco Giants in June’s blockbuster Rafael Devers trade. Boston then flipped him to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the July 31 MLB trade deadline in the deal for right-hander Dustin May.
As for Garcia, the 22-year-old started this season with Double-A Portland before earning a promotion in May to Triple-A Worcester.
“The Password” is crushing it for the WooSox, hitting .300 with 17 home runs and 50 RBIs in 62 games. The main problem for Garcia getting a ticket to Fenway Park is the Red Sox roster. It’s already loaded with outfielders, including Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, Rob Refsnyder and Masataka Yoshida.
With that in mind, the Red Sox are having Garcia take reps at first base. Boston lost first baseman Triston Casas in May to a season-ending knee injury.
Boston Red Sox infielder Kristian Campbell has been on a tear in Triple-A recently.
Campbell has looked unstoppable over his last 80-plus plate appearances, and he homered again on Thursday night, per Beyond the Monster:
“Kristian Campbell went 2-for-4 with a home run (6), two RBI (23), and a stolen base (3) in tonight’s 13-10 Worcester Red Sox win. The 23-year-old Georgia Tech alum is slashing .285/.410/.457 over 183 PA at Triple-A.”
Campbell started in left field on Thursday, a move that corresponds with David Hamilton’s return to Triple-A. However, Campbell’s primary focus remains at first base, based on the directive from the Red Sox organization.
Campbell was optioned to Worcester on June 20 after a prolonged slump, but some feel that he’s ready to return to the show. Boston signed Campbell to a six-year, $80 million contract extension in April.
The deal represented one of the earliest extensions in MLB history. Campbell wasn’t in the majors for a week before signing it.
“Definitely is crazy,” Campbell said at the time of the extension, per MLB.com’s Paige Leckie. “It’s fast … but it’s a good thing. I mean, my family is super excited. I’m super excited to be here. … They developed me. I mean, they turned it into what it is, and they put their trust in me and developed me.”
With 40 games left on the MLB schedule for the Red Sox, you would think a Campbell promotion would come soon if it’s going to happen at all in 2025. Bringing the rookie back up with ample time to have some runway before the postseason would be prudent.
It remains to be seen how Boston’s leadership will proceed with Campbell in the coming weeks. If he keeps raking, it’ll be difficult to keep him out of the big leagues.
Stefon Diggs is feeling good. The Patriots don’t want him to get too carried away, it seems.
The new Patriots wideout has been coming along well this offseason, however he did not play in the preseason opener against the Washington Commanders. Head coach Mike Vrabel declared it a coach’s decision, but it was noteworthy since other starters, including Drake Maye, played.
But in an appearance Thursday on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show, Patriots safety-turned-NFL analyst Devin McCourty shared some insight he gained from Diggs in a conversation they had last week.
“We talked to him after practice and he was kinda still energetic after the joint practice with Washington,” McCourty said. “He was like, ‘I told them I could do everything. I’m 100 percent,’ he said.
“But they told him, ‘Hey, we need you in the games. We need you during those big moments and we want you to be healthy. You’ve done this for a while now. You’ve been in preseason games. You’ve been in practices. We just want to be smart.
Diggs had 47 receptions for 496 yards with three touchdowns over eight games with the Houston Texans last season before sustaining the season-ending injury.
Prior to Houston, Diggs was a Pro Bowl nominee for four straight years with the Buffalo Bills, getting a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2020 and a Second Team selection in 2022.
“I think that makes a lot of sense,” McCourty said of the plan to slow-play things. “As a guy who got to play 13 years, I think there is an advantage to trying to map out a plan for you to be your best in those moments. He’s out there, he’s going to be playing, but coming off an ACL — and even though he looks amazing. I give them credit for saying, ‘Hey, let’s not take this too far. Let’s not get this new receiver, who we really like, and just throw him out there just so we can watch him in preseason. Let’s be smart and take it one day at a time.'”
“I think it will pay off for them,” he added. “He’s playing football. They’re just not throwing him out there like he’s 25. They’re actually thinking about the maul that he’s put on his body, and how to get the best out of Diggs later in the season.”
The Patriots regular season opener is September 7th, so the fact that Diggs feels 100 percent with a few weeks still to go is hugely positive.
The bigger challenge, it seems, is keeping Diggs from overdoing it between now and then.
Alex Bregman has only been with the Boston Red Sox for half of a season, but he’s already embracing Boston.
On Thursday, Bregman, in collaboration with Sam Adams, released “Bregman’s Beer“, a limited-edition beer available at the Sam Adams Downtown Boston Taproom while supplies last. The third baseman sat down with NESN at the launch event.
“I think for me, being the new guy here in Boston, just seeing how the fans have embraced me, and really welcomed me with open arms, we kind of wanted to partner with Sam Adams and give back to the Boston fans and do something super ‘Boston’ to enjoy during the games,” Bregman said.
The Red Sox’s third baseman has been at the center of the Red Sox’s success. Even while he missed time with an injury, he played a big role in helping younger players from the sidelines. He has an opt-out after the season, but has already expressed his desire to stick with the team long-term.
“Talking with [Alex Cora] before I signed, he did a good job of telling me about Boston…since I’ve been here, my wife and I have loved every second of it. I feel like we were expecting to love it, but we have loved it even more,” Bregman said.
While Bregman and his family love the city, the third baseman has just one focus in mind for his future.
“Just winning, just winning. I just want to win. That’s it. That’s all I want to do. When you play in the postseason, there’s something about it that you just want to do it every year. I feel like we’re in a really good spot to do that this year…I want to keep doing it, and I want to do it for a long time,” Bregman said.
“Bregman’s Beer” is available in cans and on draft exclusively at the Downtown Taproom and Boston Brewery while supplies last.
What position will Kristian Campbell play for the Boston Red Sox upon his MLB return?
The answer is first base, which is why some fans were confused when Campbell was slated to start in left field for the Worcester Red Sox on Thursday night. Per @SoxProspects, “It is the first time (Campbell has) played a position other than 1B or 2B since being optioned on June 20.”
Is Boston’s leadership suddenly having second thoughts about Campbell playing first base, despite Campbell’s increasing level of comfort at the position?
That answer is no.
Following the Campbell left field announcement on Thursday night, SoxProspects.com’s Chris Hatfield took to X to clarify the reason for Campbell’s move to the outfield.
“Per team source: This is related to (David) Hamilton needing reps at 2B now that he’s in Worcester,” Hatfield posted. “Also gets Campbell work in the OF, where he’s continued getting work outside of games, so he can help when called upon in other ways. 1B is still his primary focus.”
Hamilton was demoted on Monday. Campbell, meanwhile, has been hot at the plate lately in Triple-A.
Campbell is still on track to be the future first baseman of the Red Sox. It’s still a mystery as to when that will happen, but the 23-year-old has been excelling over the past month-plus.
Kristian Campbell is currently learning a new position during his stint at Triple-A Worcester, but he’ll try out another different spot.
The Woo Sox are playing Campbell at left field for Thursday night’s game against the Iowa Cubs. The 23-year-old has previously played exclusively at first and second base since the Boston Red Sox demoted him in late June.
First base remains Campbell’s “primary focus” with the WooSox, according to SoxProspects.com’s Chris Hatfield. Yet he’s fielded balls in the outfield outside of games to offer more versatility for a potential major league return.
The recently demoted David Hamilton is starting at second base, and Nick Sogard is starting at first.
It’s not Campbell’s first-ever exposure to the outfield. He started at left field for the Red Sox on March 29 and played seven games at center, including his last in the majors on June 18.
One would think the Red Sox have no plans of Campbell returning in the outfield. After all, Ceddanne Rafaela was playing Gold Glove-level defense in center field before shifting to second base.
Boston has struggled to find a permanent second baseman in place of Campbell, but he’s unlikely to reclaim that spot after posting minus-14 defensive runs saved at the keystone position.
First base appears to represent Campbell’s best path for playing time down the stretch. Abraham Toro has cooled off considerably from a hot start, batting .200/.259/.295 since the start of July.
Meanwhile, Campbell is swinging a scorching bat for the WooSox. He’s registered at least one hit in 17 of his last 20 games and holds a .404 on-base percentage despite a rough start to his Triple-A return.
Campbell looks ready to offer Boston an offensive boost for a playoff run, but the Red Sox must determine where his glove fits into the lineup.
Boston Celtics fans, mark your calendars with these five must-see games on the newly-released 2025-26 schedule.
October 24: Celtics @ New York Knicks
The Celtics’ second game of the regular season brings them to Madison Square Garden for a rematch against the team that ousted them in the 2024-25 postseason.
November 1: Celtics host Houston Rockets
Ime Udoka in Boston is always a dramatic event, and this time around, Udoka will be bringing Kevin Durant with him.
December 5: Celtics host Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers in Boston is always a special occasion. It’ll be interesting to see if a new-look Luka Dončić still struggles with Jaylen Brown’s ball pressure!
January 28: Celtics host Atlanta Hawks
Kristaps Porzingis returns to TD Garden for the first time as a Hawk! This game will also have competitive implications, with both teams expected to be jockeying for Eastern Conference playoff positioning.
March 12: Celtics @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Boston’s first game of the season against the defending champs will serve as an important measuring stick. If you happen to miss this one, OKC comes to Boston less than two weeks later (March 25).
Other dates of note:
January 10: Luke Kornet, San Antonio Spurs @ Celtics
January 26: Jrue Holiday, Portland Trail Blazers @ Celtics
Good news for Boston: On Thursday, the NBA Today program reported that the Celtics have the easiest strength of schedule in the NBA and are tied for the fewest back-to-back games, per @SleeperCeltics.
Buckle your seatbelts. The NBA season will be here sooner than you realize.
The NBA released its schedule for the 2025-26 season on Thursday and in turn, all 30 teams’ championship odds were updated.
Jayson Tatum’s devastating Achilles tear and the Boston Celtics’ shocking playoff elimination in the Eastern Conference semifinals in the spring preceded a massive roster overhaul over the summer.
Gone are Al Horford, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet. Among the newcomers are Anfernee Simons and rookie Hugo Gonzalez, while forward Georges Niang was traded out of Boston in early August, just one month after being acquired by the Celtics.
With all that being said, Boston, unsurprisingly, faces long odds at winning its 19th title in 2026. The Celtics currently have the 15th-lowest odds to capture the NBA championship next summer at +4500, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
The reigning-champion Oklahoma City Thunder have the best odds to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2026 at +230 and the Cleveland Cavaliers have the lowest odds among Eastern Conference squads at +750.
Boston also faces longer odds than the New York Knicks (+800), Denver Nuggets (+850), Houston Rockets (+850), Minnesota Timberwolves (+1700), Orlando Magic (+1700), Los Angeles Lakers (+1700), Los Angeles Clippers (+1700), Golden State Warriors (+1900), Atlanta Hawks (+2700), Dallas Mavericks (+3000), Philadelphia 76ers (+3500) and Detroit Pistons (+4500).
Soon after the Thunder won the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, FanDuel released its odds for the Eastern Conference. At the time, the Celtics faced the fourth-best odds to make the finals from their conference, trailing only the Cavaliers, Knicks and Magic.
Of course, that was before the team’s busy offseason, which has been criticized by some NBA analysts.
Alex Bregman has reminded everyone that he remains one of MLB’s premier third basemen.
Bregman has started his first season with the Boston Red Sox by batting a blistering .299/.379/.542 with 16 home runs in 76 games. The 31-year-old received his third All-Star nod despite missing seven weeks with a right quad strain.
Amid a resurgent season, MLB Network recognized Bregman as one of the game’s best players at his position. He ranks second among The Shredder’s top-10 third basemen after Cleveland Guardians superstar José Ramírez.
The rest of the rankings present some true head-scratchers, starting with Manny Machado trailing Max Muncy and Matt Chapman at No. 5. Ernie Clement and an injured Alec Bohm round out the top 10 ahead of Junior Caminero and Maikel Garcia.
MLB Network removed former Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers from consideration, as he hasn’t manned the hot corner this season.
Bregman’s .921 OPS represents his highest rate by a full .100 points since he crushed 41 home runs and a 1.015 OPS in 2019. Diving into the former Houston Astros star’s resurgence, “MLB Now” host Brian Kenny noted that Bregman has improved his pull-air rate while making consistent contact.
“Bregman doesn’t chase,” Kenny said. “He doesn’t swing and miss. He does damage to the pull side. That’s a winning combination.”
Ron Darling also praised Bregman’s influence inside the Red Sox clubhouse.
“His leadership abilities on and off the field, especially with a lot of those young players, is something you can’t overlook,” Darling said.
Bregman hasn’t shown any rust in his return from the injured list, batting .301/.376/.530 in the second half. He’ll look to return to his ninth straight postseason in hopes of winning his third World Series title before getting the opportunity to opt out and explore the open market as one of MLB’s top free agents.
Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser has found himself among the likes of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Anthony Edwards, among others, in one category of NBA 2K26’s player ratings.
The legendary NBA video game franchise has revealed its top 10 three-point shooting ratings for the soon to be released version and Hauser is tied for fifth on the list.
Curry, unsurprisingly, leads the way with a 99 rating, while Durant is second with a 91. Klay Thompson is third with an 89 and Desmond Bane and Isaiah Joe are tied for fourth with 88s.
Hauser received an 87 rating for his three-point shooting, which ties him with Edwards, Zach LaVine, Grayson Allen and Luke Kennard.
The Green Bay, Wisconsin native led all Celtics with a .416 three-point field goal percentage last season, which was 20th-best in the NBA.
Since playing just 26 games during his 2021-22 rookie season, Hauser has become one of the better shooters from deep in the Eastern Conference.
The 27-year-old’s .418 three-point field goal percentage during the 2022-23 campaign was 13th in the NBA and his .424 success rate from beyond the arc in 2023-24 ranked 11th in the league. Hauser is fifth among active players in career three-point field percentage at .420, trailing only Kennard, Curry, Seth Curry and A.J. Green.