Kristian Campbell Admits Being ‘Emotional’ In Red Sox Debut

Highly touted Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell made his major league debut in Boston’s Opening Day 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Thursday.

Campbell went 1-for-3 at the plate with a walk and a strikeout across eight innings and had a solid day at second base with three assists and a putout in four chances. The 22-year-old Georgia Tech product admitted it took him a little bit to get settled into his game.

“I would say the second half of the game. The second half, I started settling in,” Campbell told reporters after the win. “The first half, I was definitely emotional, too, before the game. (During) The National Anthem, I had some tears and stuff; just thinking about family and how long I’ve come to get it at the moment.

“Definitely emotional for the first half of the game, trying to get myself together, but I’m definitely used to it. I’m focused on the second half of the game.”

His lone hit came in the top of the ninth inning with Trevor Story on second. Manager Alex Cora opted to pinch-run David Hamilton for Campbell and the very next batter, Wilyer Abreu, launched his second home run of the game to give Boston a three-run lead.

“I didn’t know how I was going to get it, but I’m happy I got it,” Campbell said of his first MLB hit. “I mean, first one’s the first one, so I’m happy to get it out of the way and keep going.

“My approach was to hit the ball in the air. Drive the ball through the air, because that’s how tricky it was. … Get it on the wall, get through the wall, and try to hit it in the air. Obviously, I didn’t hit it in the air. I missed it a little bit, but I hit it hard enough to where I got to get into it. Just hit the ball hard and get in there, that was my approach.”

Cora was impressed with how Campbell handled his first game in the big leagues.

“It was good. It’s the big leagues, man. It’s not easy to do it,” Cora told reporters. “He was nervous and put a good at-bat, had the walk and then the last one he hit it hard and got a good one.

“Overall, a good one, and we won, so everybody’s happy.”