The last Red Sox player to start at least 100 games at second base is now retired and coaching his sons in Arizona.
That is Dustin Pedroia, who started 151 games in 2016.
In the eight seasons that followed, the Red Sox used 38 different starters at second base, none for more than 92 games in a single season.
The long list of starters at second base includes two catchers (Christian Vázquez and Connor Wong), two guys named Hernández (Marco and Kiké), two players from Taiwan (Tzu-Wei Lin and Yu Chang), and four players who were All-Stars with other teams before they came to Boston (Ian Kinsler, Jose Iglesias, Brandon Phillips, and Justin Turner).
There were first-round busts (Michael Chavis, Jeter Downs, and Deven Marrero) and a few other players not even the most devoted of Red Sox fans could remember — Jack Lopez, Taylor Motter, Yolmer Sanchez, and Zack Short among them.
Could this be the year that finally changes? Kristian Campbell started seven of the first eight games at second base and the plan is to leave him there outside of occasional games in center field.
“Kristian is our second baseman,” manager Alex Cora said on Saturday before the game against the Cardinals was rained out.
Cora said that while seated in the same room where the Red Sox earlier in the day formally acknowledged the eight-year, $60 million contract extension Campbell agreed to on Wednesday.
With his family and principal owner John Henry (who also owns the Globe) watching from the side, team president Sam Kennedy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow praised Campbell as being one of the building blocks of the future.
“I would call this a massively significant moment for the organization,” Breslow said.
Campbell was a fourth-round draft pick in 2023 with one year of college experience. He never imagined he’d be discussing signing such a contract at this point of his career.
“It frees me up a lot,” Campbell said. “Literally all I’m worried about right now is winning games.”
Based on his athleticism and intellect, the Sox identified Campbell as a player they could push. He had 59 plate appearances in spring training and earned a roster spot despite hitting .167.
He has started every game since and rewarded the Sox by hitting .423 with a 1.323 OPS. He’s had a few fumbles at second base but also has made several plays that showed his range.
“I’m comfortable and it gets better every day,” Campbell said. “The coaches have done a good job of getting me ready.”
Having a veteran shortstop in Trevor Story is helpful, as is the presence of Alex Bregman at third base.
The Sox plan to use David Hamilton at second base at least once a week. That will put Campbell in center field.
It has been a quick trip from his first major league spring training to a starting spot and a now a new contract.
“They’ve slowed it down for me a whole lot,” Campbell said. “My teammates make it a lot easier for me. The guys I’m around everyday, those are the people I’m closest to.
“[Cora] and all the coaches, they make everything easy even though the process is fast.”
Given all the changes and injuries that have defined the Red Sox in recent seasons, it would be unwise to anoint Campbell as the player who will finally become the regular second baseman. But he is going to get every chance.
“These are investments not just in a particular set of skills or metrics or batted-ball profiles. These are investments in people,” Breslow said.
“Our coaching staff knows [Campbell] incredibly well . . . he’s the type of guy you feel really, really comfortable with.”
Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him @PeteAbe.
