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DaShawn Keirsey Jr Makes Minnesota Twins Opening Day Roster While Red Sox Add Kristian Campbell and Phillies Assign Justin Crawford to Triple-A

Matt TallariniMar 26, 20255 MIN READ
Justin Crawford Optioned to Triple-A Philadelphia Phillies

The Minnesota Twins made several roster moves leading up to Opening Day, including adding DaShawn Keirsey Jr. to the big-league roster and optioning Austin Martin to Triple-A St. Paul. With Keirsey now in the outfield mix alongside Byron Buxton, Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, Harrison Bader, and Willi Castro, Minnesota’s Opening Day depth chart is nearly set as the 2025 MLB season begins March 27.

Minnesota Twins Made Several Roster Movements Prior to March 27

According to the team’s official transaction page, the Minnesota Twins optioned infielder/outfielder Austin Martin to Triple-A St. Paul on March 24.

Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported on March 24 that catcher/infielder Mickey Gasper and outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. will break camp with the club and be part of the Opening Day roster. The Twins plan to give infielder Edouard Julien the final position-player spot.

Keirsey, 27, grew up in San Diego, Calif., and made his MLB debut on September 5, 2024, against the Tampa Bay Rays. Minnesota drafted the left-handed hitter in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB Draft and signed him after his junior season at the University of Utah.

Keirsey signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with Minnesota during the offseason.

In 18 spring training games, Keirsey batted .275/.375/.375 across 48 plate appearances, collecting 11 hits, including one double and one home run, with eight RBI, three stolen bases, six walks, and 10 strikeouts.

In his rookie season, he appeared in six games and hit .154/.214/.385 with two hits, one home run, and one RBI in 14 plate appearances.

Keirsey played 111 games for Triple-A St. Paul before his call-up, batting .300 with 133 hits, 22 doubles, seven triples, 14 home runs, 81 RBI, 36 stolen bases, 48 walks, and 116 strikeouts in 505 plate appearances. His OPS was .845.

The Twins’ depth chart shows Harrison Bader, Willi Castro, and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. available at all three outfield spots under seventh-year manager Rocco Baldelli.

Minnesota will begin the 2025 season on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals on March 27 at 4:10 p.m. EDT.

Utility Player Kristian Campbell Makes Red Sox Opening Day Roster

Kristian Campbell ranks No. 7 overall on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list and No. 2 in the Red Sox organization.

The 23-year-old right-handed hitter from Chattanooga, Tenn., was drafted by Boston in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft and signed after his freshman season at Georgia Tech.

Over two minor league seasons in 2023 and 2024, Campbell played 137 games at four levels—starting in the Florida Complex League and High-A Greenville in 2023, then continuing in 2024 with Greenville, Double-A Portland, and Triple-A Worcester. He batted .327 with 163 hits, 36 doubles, five triples, 21 home runs, 82 RBI, 27 stolen bases, 84 walks, 121 strikeouts, and a .986 OPS in 601 plate appearances.

Defensively, Campbell started 25 games in center field, logging 204 innings with 53 putouts and no errors. He also played third base in five games across all three levels in 2024, recording 11 chances, three putouts, eight assists, and two double plays with no errors in 44 innings.

Across both seasons, Campbell appeared in 31 games across all three outfield positions, totaling 253 innings with 69 chances, 66 putouts, one assist, two errors, one double play, and a .971 fielding percentage.

At second base, he made 49 starts in 51 appearances, playing 420.2 innings with 193 chances, 68 putouts, 121 assists, four errors, and 21 double plays for a .979 fielding percentage. He also made 36 appearances at shortstop in 2024 between Double-A and Triple-A, starting 32 games and recording 103 chances, 37 putouts, 63 assists, three errors, and 12 double plays in 298.2 innings and a .971 fielding percentage.

In 2024, Campbell earned Eastern League MVP honors and was named a Baseball America Double-A All-Star and Minor League All-Star.

During spring training, he played in 20 games and logged 59 plate appearances, hitting .167/.305/.271 with eight hits, two doubles, one home run, two RBI, 10 walks, and 18 strikeouts.

Campbell signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Red Sox for the 2025 season. He’ll enter arbitration eligibility next offseason.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora and the front office will evaluate Campbell’s defensive assignments during the season’s opening stretch.

Boston will open the 2025 campaign against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on March 27 at 4:10 p.m. EDT.

Phillies Prospect Justin Crawford Assigned to Triple-A

The Phillies announced on March 23 that outfielder Justin Crawford, the organization’s No. 3 prospect and No. 63 overall on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list, will start the 2025 season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Crawford, 21, is the son of former MLB outfielder Carl Crawford. Philadelphia selected him 17th overall in the 2022 MLB Draft and signed him for $3.89 million on July 25.

In 2024, Crawford split time between High-A Jersey Shore and Double-A Reading, hitting .313 with 143 hits, 25 doubles, four triples, nine home runs, 61 RBI, and 42 stolen bases across 110 games. He posted a .805 OPS in 497 plate appearances.

Crawford also represented Team USA at the 2024 Premier12 tournament under manager Mike Scioscia. He helped the United States win bronze, defeating Venezuela 6-1 at the Tokyo Dome on November 24. He played in nine games, hitting .250/.438/.306 with three runs, eight hits, three doubles, one home run, four RBI, and three walks in 32 at-bats.

During spring training, he appeared in eight games and hit .364/.462/.364 with four hits, two stolen bases, two walks, and one strikeout over 13 plate appearances.

Across three minor league seasons, Crawford owns a .316 career batting average over 213 games, with 273 hits, 47 doubles, 13 triples, 12 home runs, 130 RBI, 99 stolen bases, and a .813 OPS in 953 plate appearances.

Lehigh Valley will open the 2025 season at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pa., on March 28 against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. EDT.

(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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