Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40

Before Nolan McLean and Carson Benge were notable two-way prospects at Oklahoma State, Campbell was a finalist for the John Olerud Award -- given to NCAA Division I's best two-way player -- in 2021. The California native went on to focus solely on pitching and performed well enough as a junior for the Guardians to select him 37th overall and sign him for a below-slot $1.7 million in '22. However, Campbell did not make his pro debut until April 2026 because of May 2023 right elbow surgery to relieve pressure on his ulnar nerve, April 2024 Tommy John surgery on the same elbow and October 2024 right wrist surgery.

Campbell was a polished arm in college and stands out at the start of his pro career for his broad five-pitch mix, with each offering at least average. After averaging 91-92 mph on his fastball at Oklahoma State, he's now sitting 94-95 mph and touching 97. He throws the pitch more than half the time, but opponents have trouble with it because of the extension he gets on his 6-foot-5 frame and the uncomfortable approach angle from his delivery. He pairs that well with a mid-80s changeup that can pick up a lot of whiffs and chase at its best.

Campbell can spin a pair of promising breaking balls, with the curve currently ahead of the slider, in part because it gets nearly 40 inches of vertical separation from the fastball. His low-90s cutter is new since college and has been a promising fifth option. Campbell is an excellent strike-thrower, and his athleticism and delivery have helped him maintain his above-average control, even after all of those surgeries. The big question, though, remains health, since there are very few cases of pitchers not throwing for four years and developing into long-term starters, so the Guardians will continue to build him up slowly.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40 

Campbell was a finalist for the John Olerud Award given to NCAA Division I's best two-way player in 2021 before focusing solely on pitching as an Oklahoma State junior last spring. He ranked seventh in D-I with 141 strikeouts in 101 1/3 innings before going 37th overall in the Draft and signing for a below-slot $1.7 million. He has yet to make his pro debut, however, because he had surgery to relieve pressure on the ulnar nerve in his pitching elbow in May.

Campbell has two secondary pitches that stand out more than his fastball: a plus upper-70s changeup with plenty of fade and a mid-70s curveball with significant depth. His heater sits at 91-93 mph and occasionally reaches 97, featuring high spin rates and armside run that generate a lot of weak contact. He can mix in a low-80s slider but usually works with three pitches. 

Due to his 6-foot-7 frame that creates unusual angle and deceptive delivery, hitters don't see the ball well against Campbell and take a lot of awkward swings against him. Very athletic for his size, he repeats his mechanics and pounds the strike zone. A tough competitor who had one of the highest floors among pitchers in the 2022 Draft, he should become at least a No. 4 starter with the chance for more if the Guardians can work their Shane Bieber magic on him. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50 

A finalist for the John Olerud Award as NCAA Division I's top two-way player in 2021, when he spun a 99-pitch no-hitter against Kansas, Campbell focused on pitching this spring. He ranked seventh in D-I with 141 strikeouts in 101 1/3 innings at Oklahoma State before going 37th overall to the Guardians as a supplemental first-round pick. Signed for a below-slot $1.7 million, he fits Cleveland's preferred mold as a polished college arm who could take a step forward if he can add more velocity in pro ball. 

Campbell's fastball parks at 91-93 mph and touches 97 mph, featuring high spin rates and running action that produce a lot of weak contact. He sports a pair of solid secondary pitches and utilizes them against both left-handers and right-handers: an upper-70s changeup with significant fade and a mid-70s curveball with plenty of depth. He'll also break out a low-80s slider but primarily works with three pitches. 

Campbell's 6-foot-7 frame creates an unusual approach angle and deceptive mechanics, and hitters just don't seem to see the ball well against him. He's very athletic for his size, provides plenty of strikes and has the savvy to win on days when he lacks his best stuff. He had one of the highest floors among college arms in the 2022 Draft, with a high probability of becoming a No. 4 starter. 

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

An 18th-round pick by the Astros out of a California high school in 2019, Campbell opted instead to attend Oklahoma State and pull double duty as a pitcher and DH. He immediately won a spot in the weekend rotation in 2020 and was a finalist for the John Olerud Award as NCAA Division I's best two-way talent in 2021, when he threw a 99-pitch no-hitter against Kansas. More of an on-base guy than a slugger at the plate, he focused solely on pitching this season and could fit toward the end of the first round after finishing seventh in D-I with 141 strikeouts in 101 1/3 innings. 

Hitters just don't seem to see the ball well against Campbell, who has a 6-foot-7 frame and deceptive mechanics with an unusual approach angle. His fastball sits around 92 mph and touches 97, and it features high spin rates and running action that generate a lot of harmless contact. He has a pair of solid secondary pitches that he'll use against both left-handers and right-handers: an upper-70s changeup with even more horizonal movement than his heater and a mid-70s curveball that creates a lot of empty swings and groundouts.  

Campbell also fiddles with a low-80s slider but primarily operates with three pitches. Extremely athletic for his size, he provides plenty of strikes and can win on days that he lacks his best stuff. He's a high-floor starter with a good probability of filling a No. 4 slot in a rotation. 

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	05/03/2026	RHP Justin Campbell assigned to Akron RubberDucks from Lake County Captains.
	03/31/2026	RHP Justin Campbell assigned to Lake County Captains from ACL Guardians.
	09/17/2025	ACL Guardians activated RHP Justin Campbell from the 60-day injured list.
	03/19/2025	ACL Guardians placed RHP Justin Campbell on the 60-day injured list.
	10/28/2024	ACL Guardians activated RHP Justin Campbell from the full-season injured list.
	03/20/2024	ACL Guardians placed RHP Justin Campbell on the full-season injured list.
	03/07/2024	Cleveland Guardians Prospects activated RHP Justin Campbell.
	11/06/2023	ACL Guardians activated RHP Justin Campbell from the 60-day injured list.
	06/05/2023	ACL Guardians placed RHP Justin Campbell on the 60-day injured list.
	03/06/2023	RHP Justin Campbell assigned to ACL Guardians from Guardians Organization.
	03/06/2023	ACL Guardians activated RHP Justin Campbell.
	08/16/2022	RHP Justin Campbell assigned to Guardians Organization.
	07/30/2022	Cleveland Guardians signed RHP Justin Campbell.
	02/20/2022	Oklahoma State Cowboys activated RHP Justin Campbell.
	02/20/2022	RHP Justin Campbell assigned to Oklahoma State Cowboys.
	03/14/2021	P Justin Campbell assigned to Oklahoma State Cowboys .
	03/14/2021	RHP Justin Campbell assigned to Oklahoma State Cowboys.
	08/24/2018	RHP Justin Campbell assigned to California.