PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Although Kristian Campbell struggled much of this spring, the feeling around camp is that he will be the Red Sox' Opening Day second baseman.
Campbell, who homered in a 14-2 loss to the Rays on Saturday, is viewed as a high-upside player who could make a significant impact in the majors this season, though he may face some early challenges.
“I saw some underlying numbers and he’s trending in the right direction and he’s hitting the ball hard and not chasing,” said manager Alex Cora. “He’s a good hitter.”
Campbell’s homer came in the eighth inning, a solo shot to right field. It was his first of the spring and raised his line to .174/.304/.283, numbers hamstrung by a 1 for 17 start. He also made a diving stop to begin the game, flashing his range and athleticism.
“I feel good,” said Campbell. “Keep going one day at a time, and keep playing as hard as possible and get ready for the season.”
There’s a good chance Campbell’s season might begin in Texas on Thursday.
Houck hammered, unbothered
Tanner Houck’s spring came with little success from a results standpoint, and ended Saturday with none.
Houck yielded a whopping 12 hits and 10 earned runs in 3⅔ innings against Tampa. He walked two and struck out two, and ended Grapefruit League play with an 11.20 ERA.
“I’ve never even really thought about it,” said Houck, asked about his spring numbers. “For me, it’s about coming and getting the work in and getting the body right. I know that you spend all offseason, I’ll use the word ‘experimenting’ on new stuff, trying out new things, new grips. And so this is our time to kind of put it all together. I always compare it to a puzzle.”
Part of the puzzle that eluded Houck? Missed bats. The righthander struck out just seven batters in 13⅔ innings.
The hope is that Houck can put it all together once the season starts. With the added adrenaline that comes with actual games, Houck believes he will.
“I definitely think that is a big part of it, getting the lights on you,” he said. “It’s just an uptick in everything.”
Yoshida out of time
Though Masataka Yoshida had a great spring at the plate, he will more than likely begin the season on the injured list. Yoshida, who underwent offseason surgery on his shoulder, is only throwing out to 90 feet.
With Rafael Devers at the DH spot, that inability to play the outfield yet leaves Yoshida out of the mix.
“Excellent,” Cora said of Yoshida’s at-bats this spring. “You can tell that he’s healthy and that the finish is different than the last year and a half. It’s been going on for a while. He grinded through it. If you ask him, there’s a reason he wanted to have surgery too.”
Once Yoshida is cleared to throw in games, he would likely begin a 20-day rehab assignment at Triple A Worcester. Per Yoshida’s contract, he would have to consent to being optioned to the minors, so an immediate move would be his decision.
“We signed him as an outfielder,” added Cora. “Obviously, circumstances change here, but I’d be very comfortable when he’s healthy to play him in the outfield.”
Bullpen mix left unsettled
There could be a scenario in which the Red Sox carry more than two lefthanders in their bullpen. That’s if Aroldis Chapman becomes the everyday closer, which it appears he will. Normally, teams carry no more than two lefties. Cora said the club will weigh its options. “We have to think about it. We got one lefty in the rotation. Maybe two,” said Cora. “So that comes into play, too. I don’t expect too many lefties on Thursday [against the Rangers]. So you need righties. You kind of have to manage to the other team.” So far Chapman, Liam Hendriks, Justin Slaten, and Garrett Whitlock are locks to make the Opening Day roster . . . Bryan Mata has turned some heads during camp and could be an option out of the bullpen. He allowed two runs and four hits in 1⅔ innings against the Rays, but drew raves from Cora. “He’s throwing 98, 99 [m.p.h.], throwing strikes. He’s putting himself on the map,” said Cora of Mata, initially signed as an international free agent in 2016. “This guy, at one point, he was the guy in this organization and he’s been hurt for a long, long time and sometimes things happen for a reason.” . . . Brayan Bello pitched 1⅔ innings in a minor-league game against Minnesota farmhands, allowing one hit, two walks, and striking out two. He threw 32 pitches, 17 strikes, and sat at 94-96 m.p.h. . . . Romy Gonzalez (oblique) took at-bats in a minor league game. He will not travel with the Sox for their exhibition games in Mexico, Cora said, but is expected to be on the Opening Day roster.
Julian McWilliams can be reached at julian.mcwilliams@globe.com. Follow him @byJulianMack.