Isaiah Campbell
Boston Red Sox – No. 44
Pitcher
Born: (1997-08-15) August 15, 1997 (age 26)
Angra do Heroismo, Portugal
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 7, 2023, for the Seattle Mariners
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record4–1
Earned run average2.83
Strikeouts33
Teams

Isaiah Lyn Campbell (born August 15, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Seattle Mariners. Campbell was selected by the Mariners in the second round of the 2019 MLB draft.

Amateur career

Campbell was born in Portugal, where his father was stationed while serving in the United States Air Force, but grew up in Kansas and attended Olathe South High School in Olathe, Kansas.[1][2] As a senior, he compiled a 5–1 win–loss record with a 1.66 earned run average (ERA). He struck out 42 batters in 33+2⁄3 innings pitched.[3]

Campbell made six starts and 13 appearances for the Arkansas Razorbacks as a true freshman. He had 23 strikeouts in 31+2⁄3 innings pitched while going 3–1 with a 3.69 ERA. He was also named to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) First Year Academic Honor Roll.[3] His sophomore season in 2017 was cut short after just +2⁄3 of an inning due to an elbow injury, for which he was granted a medical redshirt.[3] He helped the Razorbacks to the 2018 College World Series final, winning the game in the semi-final that allowed them to advance to the final. That season, he appeared in 18 games, making 17 starts, including four in the NCAA tournament and two in the College World Series.

After the 2018 season, Campbell was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 24th round of the 2018 MLB draft, but opted to return to college for his junior season. In 2019, he had his best season yet, making 18 starts, striking out 125 batters in 118+1⁄3 innings and going 12–1 with a 2.13 ERA.[2] The Razorbacks reached the 2019 College World Series but were eliminated in the first round by Florida State.

Professional career

Seattle Mariners

Campbell was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the second round of the 2019 MLB draft.[4][5] Campbell signed with the Mariners for an $850,000 signing bonus.[5] He did not play professionally that season, and did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor-league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]

Campbell made his professional debut in 2021 with the Everett AquaSox of High-A West, pitching 19+1⁄3 innings and going 3–1 with a 2.33 ERA.[7] His season ended prematurely after undergoing elbow surgery.[8] He began the 2022 season as a starting pitcher, but continued to experience elbow discomfort after his first four games, and he was placed on the injured list again. After Campbell's return, the Mariners converted him to a relief pitcher to minimize the stress on his elbow, and Campbell thrived in his new role, giving up only an unearned run on eight hits and a walk while striking out 20 in 15 innings for the AquaSox. This performance earned Campbell a promotion to Double-A with the Arkansas Travelers in August. With Arkansas in 2022, he pitched to a 3.46 ERA and struck out 24 batters while walking only two.[6][9]

Campbell was optioned to the Double-A Travelers to begin the 2023 season.[10] In 23 games to begin the season, he went 6–0 with a 2.63 ERA, 27 strikeouts, and 2 saves in 24.0 innings of work. On July 6, 2023, Campbell was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[9][11] He made his debut on July 7 by throwing a scoreless inning with one strikeout. This made Campbell only the second Portuguese-born player to appear in the major leagues, and the first since Frank Thompson, who played twelve games in 1875.[12] After making three appearances in total and recording six strikeouts, Campbell was sent back down to Double-A on July 19.[13] He was called back up three days later, and garnered his first major league victory against the Toronto Blue Jays.[14] Overall, Campbell appeared in 27 major-league games with the Mariners, all in relief, compiling a 4–1 record with a 2.83 ERA and one save.[15]

Boston Red Sox

On November 17, 2023, Campbell was traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for infielder Luis Urías.[16][17]

References

  1. ^ "Checking in with Mariners Prospect Isaiah Campbell". March 5, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Isaiah Campbell College Leagues Statistics & History". Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Isaiah Campbell". arkansasrazorbacks.com. October 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  4. ^ "Mariners select RHP Isaiah Campbell 76th overall in 2019 MLB Draft". MLB.com. June 4, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "2nd Round of the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Brock, Corey (15 February 2023). "For Mariners pitching prospect Isaiah Campbell, less is more". The Athletic. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  7. ^ "AquaSox weekly update: J-Rod returns, Sox leap into 1st place". June 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "Mariners' Isaiah Campbell: Requires elbow surgery". CBSSports.com. June 20, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Divish, Ryan (6 July 2023). "Isaiah Campbell finally found his place in baseball and with Mariners: in the bullpen". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Mariners' Isaiah Campbell: Optioned to Double-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  11. ^ "Mariners' Isaiah Campbell: Promoted to majors". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  12. ^ Green, PJ (8 July 2023). "Olathe native Isaiah Campbell makes historic MLB debut". WDAF-TV. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Mariners' Isaiah Campbell: Optioned on Wednesday". CBSSports.com. 19 July 2023. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Campbell earns first win as Mariners hold off Jays". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Isaiah Campbell Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  16. ^ McWilliams, Julian (November 17, 2023). "Red Sox trade Luis Urías, pass on Wyatt Mills at non-tender deadline". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  17. ^ "Mariners acquire Luis Urías from Red Sox for Isaiah Campbell". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.

External links

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