After demotion to Triple A, Red Sox' Kristian Campbell need only look to three-time MVP Mike Trout for inspiration

Boston Globe

3 days ago

A week ago,
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'In the moment, it (stinks),' Trout told the Globe this week. 'But you got to experience what it's like up here. You know what you need to do to maintain and stay up here. That's what I look back on for me. When I got sent down, I was upset, but I knew, OK, now when I get another chance, I know what to expect. I can slow the game down.'
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Slowing the game down is the same buzz phrase Campbell used recently. Too often, he said, the game felt fast. He felt harried, which is not conducive to success.
After a hot several weeks upon making the Opening Day roster, Campbell endured a steep drop-off, winding up with a
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Trout hears often, he said, about the latest talented youngster to encounter a version of what he experienced. Sometimes, people within the Angels organization or from elsewhere in baseball seek out his advice, which he is happy to give.
'You don't really see often where you get a younger kid who comes up and just explodes right off the get-go,' Trout said. 'There's exceptions of a few superstars, but this game is going to have lots of ups and downs. You're going to fail the majority of the time. You just [have to] stay within yourself and stay positive.
'When young guys get up here, they try to do so much. Especially myself. I got out of my approach a lot. Didn't really trust what got me there. If I try to hit the ball so hard or hit the ball so far every time, I'm going to get myself out. I had to trust what got me there. It was a big learning experience for me.'
Near the other end of the spectrum is
Scott Kingery
, who now is Trout's teammate but last decade was a Phillies phenom.
Kingery was one of the top prospects in baseball before reaching the majors. He even received a six-year, $24 million contract just before his debut in 2018 — similar to
Matt Klentak
, then the Phillies' general manager, considered it 'the best success story we could have' and 'exactly what you want as an organization.' The Phillies perceived little risk, considering Kingery a can't-miss blue chipper.
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Kristian Campbell and the Red Sox would be happy to see him return to the form that produced a .301 average and .902 OPS through April.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
With money, though, came a new burden.
'For me, personally, everyone thinks as soon as you get some guaranteed money, it takes the pressure off,' Kingery, standing a few lockers away from Trout's, said this week. 'But when you get that money so early — before you've really proven yourself in the big leagues — there's a want and need you feel to live up to that contract and prove that you deserve the money you got.
'That's always in the back of your head. I want to prove why to the fans, to the staff, the front office, everybody why I got the contract.'
Kingery batted .226 as a rookie, became a super-utility type of player, and wound up back in the minors in 2021. He played in one major league game (in 2022) between then and last month, when he made it
'I always like to say that clearly they saw something that they loved, because they're not just going to hand out money if they don't like what he offers and what he brings to the table,' Kingery said. 'That's something I always try to remind myself of.'
Kingery echoed Trout: With Campbell, anything is possible with all that upside.
'He's a great player, so sometimes you just need to get that confidence back and roll from there,' Kingery said. 'The tools are there. It's about finding your rhythm. Sometimes it can add some pressure, but he knows what he can do on the field, so he'll be all right.'
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Cora's a league leader
Alex Cora
leads all managers with four ejections this season.
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After his back-to-back feat Sunday and Monday, he said he did not hear from MLB about additional punishment. He did reach out to
Michael Hill
, the senior vice president of on-field operations, for an explanation on the play from the first ejection, but he decided against doing so again when more questions popped up the next day.
Narváez in throws of excellence
Carlos Narváez
has thrown out 17 would-be base-stealers, most in the majors. The rookie catcher's 27 precent success rate is above the league average of 23 … The Sox will keep their rotation in order against the Blue Jays:
Brayan Bello
on Friday night in
Lucas Giolito
on Saturday,
Walker Buehler
on Sunday.
Tim Healey can be reached at