Alex Cora compares Kristian Campbell to … Jaylen Brown?

“I’m like,” who is he as a baseball player? Jaylen Brown! ‘”Cora said. “You look at Jaylen Brown on the field, it’s different. He gets it done. The way he moves is different from the other athletes in the NBA. “

Campbell was flattered over hearing the comparison.

“It’s the first non-baseball I’ve heard,” Campbell said. “It’s actually really cool.”

While Pence Swing is the most common visual comparison for Campbell, Cora compares the prospects of approach to the longtime astros and Blue Jay’s Star George jumpsWith a baseline of aggressiveness, but the ability to make late decisions not to swing in bad spaces.

“The decision is so good,” Cora said. “It impresses me.”

The move was clear on Tuesday as Campbell negotiated a few full -tunes against the pirates. It marked two days of solid record performances, starting with a single Monday that cracked a 0-for-12-start (with eight strikes) to open the grapefruit League season.

Cora recognized a sense of relief when Campbell got his first hit and felt it would allow him to settle in the camp.

“Thank God, bro!” Cora said of the team’s reaction. “He was able to breathe a little.”

The 22-year-old, who is in the mix as a potential starting second Baseman, started in the left field for the second straight game on Tuesday, a position he still learns, but where his athletics and good first steps are already clear.

Cora said “There is nothing behind” Campbell’s back-to-back days to the left, and that his time at a different position than otherwise is mainly driven by a need to get bats for others, such as Vaughn Grissom and David HamiltonThere is also in the mixture of Keystone.

Mata on Haugen

In Fort Myers, Recovering of Bryan Mata Got speed.

The 25-year-old justice threw 20 seats with live batting practice in Jetblue Park that knocked out Connor WongAt Alex Bregmanand Carlos NarváezBefore you retire Rafael Devers on a fluff ball.

Matas Fastball sat 97 miles per hour hit 98, raising the eyebrows of SOX leaders present.

When the team’s top pitching view, Mata spent last year on the wounded list, was appointed for award on November 19 and then returned to the organization on a minor league contract in December.

Mata was on the 40-man list from 2021-24. He missed the ’21 season, which recovered after Tommy John operation, and then put only 133 ⅔ laps over the next three seasons due to various injuries.

He arrived at the camp this season with a veal tribe that put him behind the other throwers with a few weeks.

Mata probably opens the season with Triple A Worcester.

“We see where it takes us with him,” Cora said last week. “He had a lot of ability.”

Bugging out

Triston Casas Was a late scratch from Tuesday’s game due to a stomach error that hit several SOX players. Novel AnthonyAt Marcelo Mayerand Romy Gonzalez has also been felled … Brayan Bello Want to have its next Bullpen session on Thursday. Cora characterized Bello as “Full Go”, but with a need to build fully for the season. The team doesn’t want to skip steps, so Bello seems to start the season on the wounded list, although it may be a short stint. “He wants to be ready when he’s ready. We won’t throw him out there when he needs two outputs, ”Cora said. “We get smart with it. He is very important to us. ”… Garrett Whitlock Will look up its first grapefruit league -match Friday … Lucas Giolito Throws a more multi-in-in-in live batting exercise on Thursday and then do its first grapefruit LeagueAperearance next Tuesday … for the first time in the spring, Wily Abreu Will take part in a full day of baseball training with the team Wednesday … Ceddanne Rafaela Rested Tuesday due to hamstring density that Cora considered “nothing serious” and could resume activities on Wednesday.

A useful view

Richard Fitts Had an impressive inning of live batting practice in Jetblue Park, hit 98 km / h with his fastball and then got some feedback from Bregman. “It’s incredible to have such a guy I can get advice from,” Fitts said. “He is honest about what he sees and I feed it.” … DEVERS took six bats against Fitts, Lefthander Matt MooreAnd Mata and had three hits. As he tries to lock himself into the record, Dervers has delayed his planned Grapefruit League debut until at least the weekend. He will continue to take live batting practices against teammates. “He is gone in time,” Cora said. “(But) I’m not worried about him.”

Alex Speier can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @Atexspeier. Peter Abraham can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @Petabe.