Kristian Campbell vs. Roman Anthony: Explaining The Difference Between MiLB Player of the Year and No. 1 Prospect
Image credit: Kristian Campbell (Photo by Tayla Bolduc/Worcester Red Sox)
Red Sox second baseman/shortstop Kristian Campbell is Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year.
His teammate, Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony, is Baseball America’s current No. 1 prospect.
For those wondering how both these statements can be true, here’s our explanation for the difference between the two accolades.
Our Minor League Player of the Year award is given to the best performance by a prospect in the minors in a season. We do take prospect status into account, so a MiLB veteran having the best season in the minors is not going to win Baseball America’s MiLB POY. We want our MiLB POY award to have lasting staying power, and we’re quite proud of the history of the award.
Hall of Famers Frank Thomas, Derek Jeter and Joe Mauer are previous winners, as are current star big leaguers like Mike Trout, Blake Snell, Ronald Acuna, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bobby Witt Jr. and Gunnar Henderson.
Campbell joins that list after having, quite convincingly, the best season by a prospect this year.
He hit .330/.439/.558 across three stops—High-A Greenville, Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester—finishing with 20 home runs and 24 stolen bases. He was top 10 in the minor leagues in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and runs scored.
The leagues that Campbell did this in were not particularly offensive, either. His 180 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) was best among full-season hitters. Adding to his value was his defensive versatility. Campbell played 25+ games at shortstop, second base and center field, and also played five games at third.
But as good as Campbell’s season is, that does not make him the best prospect in his own system.
Anthony had an excellent season, as well, hitting .291/.396/.498 with 18 home runs, 21 steals and 54 extra-base hits while splitting time between Portland and Worcester. His numbers at Triple-A were actually better than his Double-A stats, as he hit .344/.463/.519 in his 35 games after the promotion.
So what makes Anthony our No. 1 prospect? He has a longer track record of hitting.
Anthony was a breakout prospect in 2023 who got even better in 2024, while Campbell was a fourth-round pick out of Georgia Tech who had never before shown this kind of power. Campbell redshirted in 2022 and hit four home runs in 2023 during his lone college season before being drafted by the Red Sox. His slugging percentage actually went up in 2024 when compared to what he slugged with a metal bat in 2023.
Age also plays a factor in their prospect status. Anthony played almost the entire 2024 season as a 20-year-old and has a chance to reach the majors before his 21st birthday (May 13). Campbell, meanwhile, is already 22 years old.
Campbell has quickly emerged as one of the top prospects in the game, but scouts and front office officials view Anthony as being an even better prospect. Both are excellent prospects, but that hopefully explains how one Red Sox prospect can be our Minor League Player of the Year while the other ranks as the game’s No. 1 prospect.
