Tony Massarotti should be embarrassed by ultra-reactionary Kristian Campbell take

Tony Massarotti should be embarrassed by ultra-reactionary Kristian Campbell take

We’re one weekend into the 2025 MLB Season. We’re not even in April yet, but it’s officially overreaction season in every direction imaginable.

One of the most egregious overreactions came after one game. Boston talking head Tony Massarotti has made a living covering the Red Sox–and MLB–for three decades. However, Massarotti had quite the bold take regarding Red Sox rookie infielder Kristian Campbell after his first career MLB game, saying he wasn’t ready, during Friday’s episode of the Felger and Mazz radio show.

“Kristian Campbell was not great in this game either,” Massoratti said. “He looked scared. He looked nervous. … You want my honest opinion? It’s a little more extreme. He didn’t look ready for the big leagues. He didn’t. Now it was day one, he was clearly nervous. But if you ask me … he did not look ready for the big leagues. [The Boston Red Sox] have gone a little fast with him.”

Kristian Campbell did not look ready for the big leagues@IAmJamesStewart @TonyMassarotti @bigjimmurray @mikefelger @MaggioreKevin @FelgerAndMazz @kfabrizio985 pic.twitter.com/4hC3Vi2bGz

— 98.5 The Sports Hub (@985TheSportsHub) March 28, 2025

If you want my honest opinion: This is an insane reaction to have after one singular game.

Campbell did strike out in his first two at-bats. But then he got on-base twice, tallying his first MLB hit being a 102.2 MPH single off the 3B bag in the 9th that led to Wilyer Abreu’s game-winning three-run home run. The 22-year-old followed suit by recorded a pair of hits on Friday and Saturday–including a 431-foot two-run home run to dead center, the first of his career.

The official MLB account humorously trolled the former columnist, too.

"He just doesn’t look ready for the big leagues, Mike!" pic.twitter.com/IAuQuX7owX

— MLB (@MLB) March 30, 2025

Nestor Cortes had a comically bad return to Yankee Stadium

Through one weekend, the Red Sox’s second baseman is slashing .429/.500/.786 with three extra-base hits. While Boston lost three of its four games, you could argue that Campbell and Abreu were the team’s two-best players.

We still have a long way to go, but can we let things play out before we determine whether or not rookies are ready for the big leagues? It’s not even April yet, Tony! It’s OK to have takes without coming to insane conclusions–but this is also something I expect from Boston Sports radio and other large media markets after just one weekend. It happens in every sport.

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