PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- For the Red Sox, it is coming down to the wire at second base and in the bullpen.
And Red Sox manager Alex Cora advised media members who made the hour ride for Saturday¡¯s 14-2 loss to the Rays that it could still be multiple days before everything is official.
Second base remains the biggest position of interest, mainly because Kristian Campbell, MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 7 prospect, seems to have emerged as the front runner.
On Saturday, starting at second base for the second consecutive day, Campbell made a tremendous diving stop to snare a liner to open the bottom of the first inning. In the eighth inning, he went the other way for an opposite-field homer, his first of Spring Training. In the ninth, Campbell showed patience with a walk.
The Red Sox have their final Spring Training game in Florida on Sunday and play exhibition games in Monterrey, Mexico, against the Sultanes on Monday and Tuesday.
Campbell, Boston's No. 2 prospect, is making the trip to Monterrey, which seems like another hint he is going to break camp with the team.
¡°I just play until I¡¯m told [about the decision],¡± Campbell said. ¡°I¡¯m going to Mexico, I do know that. Looking forward to that for sure, it will be my first time out of the country.¡±
Though his batting line in Spring Training is underwhelming (.174/.304/.283), those stats don¡¯t factor much into the club¡¯s evaluation.
¡°He was on the fastball [today],¡± said Cora. ¡°He¡¯s been late the whole spring on fastballs and today he got a 2-1 pitch, hit it out in front to center field. He got to the other one, hit it the other way. That¡¯s the most important thing. At this level, if you hit the fastball, and you get to the fastball, you¡¯ll be in a good spot.¡±
With Vaughn Grissom getting optioned earlier in the week, the competition for second base is between Campbell and David Hamilton.
Given that Hamilton¡¯s skill set (blazing speed, versatility on defense) makes him the perfect utility player, the path seems to be open for Campbell.
The 22-year-old continues to have an even-keeled demeanor about his situation.
¡°I feel good in the box. I have a plan,¡± said Campbell. ¡°I think having an approach going into the box and just trying to keep it as simple as possible is the main thing. Even though some things may not go your way, just make sure you don't try to do too much. Keep it as simple as possible.¡±
The fact that Campbell roped his homer to right field off Rays righty Joe Boyle was a good sign.
¡°That's my alley, usually, [to] the opposite field,¡± Campbell said. ¡°So it was good to get one that way. Stayed through it good. He was throwing really hard. So he supplied most of that power. But it was a good swing for sure.¡±
Mata back on radar
The bullpen got pared down a little on Saturday morning, as non-roster veterans Adam Ottavino and Matt Moore were informed they didn¡¯t make the team.
Five candidates are vying for the final three spots, and Bryan Mata (1 2/3 innings, two runs and two strikeouts on Saturday) is trying to grab one of them. Zack Kelly, Greg Weissert, Brennan Bernardino and Cooper Criswell are the others in the competition.
Mata arrived in camp as a dark horse candidate who was once the team¡¯s top pitching prospect. He is at last healthy again.
Mata was designated for assignment in November and wound up back with the Red Sox on a Minor League contract a week later. The righty has never pitched for another professional team, having been signed by Boston as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2016.
If the 25-year-old Mata breaks camp with the team, it would mark his first stint on the Major League roster.
¡°He¡¯s putting himself on the map,¡± said Cora. ¡°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. Now he¡¯s in a different situation. Maybe he¡¯s more relaxed.
¡°He¡¯s throwing 98, 99 [mph] and throwing strikes with a good changeup and a good slider. He's healthy, which is the most important thing. As long as he throws strikes, he is in the mix.¡±
For someone who was out of the mix for a long time, that¡¯s a good place for Mata to be.