Mariners call-up set to break 148-year drought for native country

According to "WBC Central" host Shawn Spradling, Campbell (whose father was in the U.S. Air Force and stationed in Portugal when the hurler was born) could conceivably be considered the first Portuguese-born in MLB history. The only other native of the country to step on a big league diamond was Frank Thompson (who also went by Augustus Fernandez) in 1875, but his career concluded before the National League and American League were formed in 1876 and 1901, respectively.

Campbell was first selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 24th round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft before being taken in the second round by the Mariners in 2019 out of the University of Arkansas. He attended high school in Kansas before playing four years for the Razorbacks from 2016-19.

The now-25-year-old Campbell helped lead Arkansas to appearances in the College World Series during his final two seasons, including a runner-up finish in 2018.

He led the Razorbacks in nearly every pitching category as a senior, going 12-1 with a 2.13 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 125 strikeouts across 118 1/3 innings pitched covering 18 starts. The 2019 squad also included recent Arizona Diamondbacks call-up Dominic Fletcher.

After the pandemic canceled the 2020 minor league season and he spent 2021 with the Class A Everett AquaSox, Campbell split last year between the AquaSox and Double-A Arkansas Travelers. In 23 games out of the Travelers bullpen in 2023, he has gone 6-0 with a 2.63 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 27 strikeouts over 24 innings pitched.