Here's what's fascinating about the Boston Red Sox. They're already a fairly young team. The only starter they had over 30 just got moved to the bullpen. They just solidified a core of people like Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela, all between 24 and 28. They're behaving how a rebuilding competitive team properly should, with homegrown stars running the place and contracted veterans [Crochet, Bregman, Story] stepping in to help. And yet while this already young core is working, there's another, more exciting young core developing underneath it.
Kristian Campbell, who's been the primary starter at 2nd, has been the first step of this. He, along with fellow Worcester hitters Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony, lit things up last year and commanded the attention of the organization. The Yanks had their own Baby Bombers take the lead several years ago, and now it's the Sox's turn to bring up theirs. Campbell has been pretty nice in his first season, hitting .274 with 14 RBIs and 3 homers. He's cooled down since early April but is still a nice part of this team, and is expected to only build over time. Mayer, blocked at SS by Trevor Story, is hitting .283 with 35 RBIs and 7 homers in Worcester, and Roman Anthony, blocked at all three outfield positions by surging major leaguers, is hitting .292 with 17 RBIs and 5 homers. Even if those guys are ready, with the Sox being good right now and having answers at multiple positions, they're not needed immediately.
Which does make things a little awkward.
The Rafael Devers thing has been a cloud over this season, and over the future of this youth movement. Devers has been asked, politely, by management to move over to 1st to cover for Triston Casas, missing substantial time for the second year in a row. The way this works, if Devers can play some games at 1st and show his range, then they can bring up Anthony or someone of that ilk to DH [or give it to Rob Refsnyder]. But Devers is still pissed they gave his position away to a free agent, and is now playing the 'well you told me I was done playing the field' card. I think he has a right to be a little salty, but at the end of the day he should think of the team before he thinks of himself. This is a team that could go for another ring, and he could still be a big part of it, but he thinks it needs to happen on his terms. That's not really a winning strategy. It's one thing if an organization keeps a top MLB-ready prospect in the minors to conserve MLB time, but here it's really just Devers keeping him there. This way, Romy Gonzalez has been stuck in at 1st, Devers is the everyday DH, and the youth movement doesn't progress. Luckily, the team's going so well that it doesn't completely need to, but if things continue at this pace and Devers remains this stubborn, it's gonna look very off.
The Sox are at .500, have lapped Toronto for second and have activated Lucas Giolito and Liam Hendricks, and are looking at holding onto a steady competitive spot in the AL. At this rate they should be fine, but it may not have to be as complicated as it currently is. And considering that Devers will be a Red Sock for another several years, hopefully he figures out an answer that doesn't kneecap his own team.
Coming Tomorrow- The closest thing the Marlins have to a good pitcher right now.
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