Red Sox Notes: Rookie Kristian Campbell sent to Triple-A following slump, pitching prospect undergoes Tommy John, Jordan Hicks throws at Polar Park

The Red Sox have shaken up their roster this week, starting with the Father’s Day trade that sent Rafael Devers to the Giants, and now the club has optioned rookie Kristian Campbell to Triple-A Worcester.

Campbell’s spot on the roster is expected to go to outfielder Wilyer Abreu, who is coming off the IL on Friday and should be with the Red Sox to begin their next series in San Francisco.

The struggling rookie’s demotion comes after his strong start over the first month of the season, when he won the American League Rookie of the Month award for March and April. Campbell was red-hot, hitting .301 with four homers, eight doubles, 12 RBI, and a .902 OPS in 29 games.

In the weeks that followed his explosive start at the plate, Campbell's season has unfolded dramatically.

Since May 1, Campbell has hit just .159 (20-for-126) with only four extra-base hits, 40 strikeouts, and a .465 OPS. Defensively, Campbell was a butcher at second base, committing seven errors in 471 2/3 innings; he ranked in the first percentile (last in MLB) in outs against average, according to Statcast. Campbell ranks as one of the worst fielders in all of baseball with a minus-14 defensive runs saved, per FanGraphs.

The 22-year-old skyrocketed through the Red Sox system last season, achieving a .330/.439/.558 batting line with 20 home runs and 24 steals in 115 games across High-A Greenville, Double-A Portland, and Triple-A Worcester. His season came to an end in early September after he went on the WooSox’ 7-day injured list with a lat strain.

Campbell played just 19 games at Triple-A, shot through the minors, and hit .286/.412/.486 to go along with two doubles, four home runs, 17 RBIs, 17 runs scored, four stolen bases, 13 walks, and 18 strikeouts.

Boston signed Campbell to an extension earlier this season, announcing an eight-year, $60-million extension that includes a $19 million option, with a $4 million buyout for 2033 and a $21 million option for ’34, bringing his total deal to $96 million.

With Campbell in Worcester, the Red Sox will utilize David Hamilton at second base. Once Alex Bregman returns from the IL, Boston could shift Marcelo Mayer to second base and could also use Ceddanne Rafaela at the position. With Devers in the Bay Area, the Sox can rotate players in and out of the DH spot. Outfielders Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Rob Refsnyder, Abreu, and Rafaela can be moved to other spots on the field and at DH.

PITCHING PROSPECT INJURED

Red Sox right-handed pitching prospect Yordanny Monegro will undergo Tommy John surgery and will miss the remainder of the season, according to Beyond the Monster’s Josh Ball.

“You feel for anyone that goes through it, but this young man, the work he was putting in, he finally figured that out,“ Sea Dogs manager Chad Epperson said following Monegro’s injury. “In the weight room, the nutrition, everything he was going and buying into, he finally figured that part out, and that really sucks for him because you were starting to see the results from that into his pitching.”

This season, Monegro achieved a 2-1 record, with an earned run average (ERA) of 2.67 and a total of 49 strikeouts in nine games, including eight starts. The 22-year-old righty owned a 36 percent strikeout rate, which was the third highest in the minors among pitchers who made at least 30 starts.

INFIELD PROSPECT RETURNS

Sea Dogs infielder Mikey Romero, who has been out on the IL since June 4th due to forearm soreness, will DH on Friday. Once Romero returns to the field, he will play second base, shortstop, and third base.

“His ability to go all over the dirt is going to be key for him,” Epperson said on Romero transitioning to the hot corner. “I really like him at third base; you see a confident player there. He loves to play on the run, and I think third base allows you to do that.”

NEW PROSPECT PORTLAND SEA DOGS DEBUT

James Tibbs III, the outfield prospect acquired from the Giants in the Devers blockbuster trade, recorded his first hit with the Red Sox organization on Wednesday night.

Tibbs III, the No. 6 prospect in the Red Sox system, according to MLB Pipeline, recorded a single into left field in the Sea Dogs’ loss to Akron. In his first three games with Portland, Tibbs III is 3-for-11 (.273) with one double, two RBI, two walks, and six strikeouts, with a .749 OPS.

Prior to the trade, Tibbs III played in 57 games for High-A Eugene Emeralds, where he was hitting .246 with 12 homers, 10 doubles, one triple, 32 RBI, 42 walks, three stolen bases, 45 strikeouts, with an .857 OPS.

The Giants selected the outfielder 13th overall in last year’s MLB Draft, after he slashed .363/.488/.777 as a junior with Florida State.

JORDAN HICKS THROWS

Jordan Hicks threw off the mound at Polar Park on Wednesday as he works to come back from the IL (right toe inflammation).

The Red Sox plan to use Hicks as a late-inning reliever to help strengthen Boston’s bullpen. This season, Hicks has struggled, posting a 6.47 ERA in 48 2/3 innings, splitting time in the rotation and bullpen.

The other pitching prospect the Red Sox acquired from the Giants, 20-year-old right-hander Jose Bello, was assigned to Boston’s rookie affiliate.

"Pretty exciting young arm, generally is around the strike zone. Big velocity,” said Red Sox director of pitching development Justin Willard to Boston Sports Journal. “There's some little tweaks we can do here and there with the fastball shape, and then, obviously, you figure out a more platoon-neutral arsenal. Definitely some upside and excited about the velo."

BOSTON’S TRADE DEMANDS NOT MET

The Red Sox were pushing hard to land the Giants’ top power-hitting first base prospect, Bryce Eldridge, in the Devers’ swap.

According to The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly, in the early stages of discussions on Devers, the Red Sox "insisted upon 20-year-old first base prospect (Bryce) Eldridge, but the Giants refused to consider including him in the deal." Ultimately, the sides came to terms without Eldridge heading to the Red Sox in the deal.

Eldridge is currently ranked as the No. 19 prospect in the game, per Baseball America. He has been struggling at the plate, hitting .143 with two homers, and a .498 OPS at Triple-A.

The pursuit of Eldridge made sense for the Red Sox with the long-term status of Triston Casas up in the air. Boston lost the slugger after he underwent surgery for a torn patellar tendon last month.