Minor League Baseball

Boston Red Sox ‘Big 3’ Prospects All Hit Home Runs in Spring Breakout Game

After Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer hit back-to-back home runs, Roman Anthony blasted one of his own during the Boston Red Sox's Speak Breakout game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Sam Connon|
Lakeland, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Kristian Campbell (28) bats during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.
Lakeland, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Kristian Campbell (28) bats during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. | Mike Watters-Imagn Images

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Boston Red SoxTampa Bay Rays

MLB introduced Spring Breakout in 2024 to shine a spotlight on the biggest stars in minor league baseball.

Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer certainly made the most of their air time Thursday night.

The Boston Red Sox faced the Tampa Bay Rays in the first Spring Breakout game of 2025 on Thursday. Boasting two of the top-ranked farm systems in the sport, it was a highly-anticipated matchup that found a way to deliver – especially for Red Sox Nation.

With two outs in the top of the third inning, second baseman Kristian Campbell belted a two-run home run that put Boston on top 2-0. Shortstop Marcelo Mayer made it back-to-back by following that up with a solo homer to make it 3-0.

The Rays eventually pulled ahead 5-3, only to see that lead get slashed in half in the fifth.

Outfielder Roman Anthony joined in on the home run parade, crushing a moonshot of his own to right.

Anthony, Campbell and Mayer are referred to as the Red Sox's "Big 3," considering they are each held up as some of the top prospects in baseball. MLB Pipeline has Anthony ranked No. 2 overall, followed by Campbell at No. 7 and Mayer at No. 12.

No other team has three prospects ranked inside the top 25, let along the top 12.

All three went yard Thursday, finishing a combined 3-for-9 with four RBIs. The rest of Boston's prospect went 3-for-24, though, as Tampa Bay went on to win 7-5.

Anthony, Campbell and Mayer are all still part of the Red Sox's big league spring training camp. While it remains to be seen if any of them will earn an Opening Day roster spot, they are each expected to make their respective MLB debuts in 2025.

Related MiLB Stories

  • TIGERS SHED TOP PROSPECTS: Catcher Thayron Liranzo and infielder Hao-Yu Lee have been cut loose from Detroit's major league spring training camp. CLICK HERE
  • ROMO, AMADOR REASSIGNED: The Rockies optioned top prospects Drew Romo and Adael Amador to Triple-A on Wednesday, taking them out of the running for Opening Day roster spots. CLICK HERE
  • SMITH TRYING OUT RF: The Astros don't have a clear opening at third base, so top prospect Cam Smtih will instead get looks in right field in spring training. CLICK HERE

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer for “Minor League Baseball on SI’’ and other "On SI'' baseball sites. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for “UCLA on SI’’ and won awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for “New England Patriots on SI’’ and was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Follow Sam on Twitter @SamConnon.

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