After singling in the ninth inning of Boston’s Opening Day win, Campbell was awarded his souvenir ball in a nifty sanitary stocking, marked “First Hit, 3/27, Texas, Single”. He also was presented with an autographed Sox lineup card and Alex Cora’s official dugout game scorecard, suitable for framing. Campbell gave the coveted baseball to his proud parents Thursday night.

Before Friday’s game, however, the Globe learned that the Rangers might appeal Campbell’s hit and ask that it be changed to an error by Texas third baseman Josh Jung. If MLB rules in favor of the change, Campbell’s hit goes away, which would have made him officially hitless at the start of Friday night’s Game 2 at Globe Life Field. According to MLB, the appeal has to be made within 72 hours of the game in question and it can take several days to render a decision. Former MLB players review the appeals.

Late Friday afternoon, I had the unfortunate task of informing the ultra-polite 22-year-old Campbell that his milestone hit might be erased. The ball he’d given his folks might turn out to be fool’s gold. I felt like the Grinch who stole Campbell’s Baseball Christmas.

“Well, hopefully, they can’t turn it around,’’ Campbell said softly. “But whatever happens, happens. I’ll just have to keep playing. It’s funny how things work here. I just don’t think it’s that deep.’’

I had a small laugh with Cora over Texas hit-gate, because — as much as he’ll always defend his players — Cora is dubious about the authenticity of Campbell’s two-hop grounder that was butchered by Jung. Cora was a Major League infielder for 14 seasons. He knows a hit from an error.

“I know you didn’t think it was a hit,’’ chuckled the manager.

In front of his mom, dad, brother, sister, and girlfriend — all in town from Georgia — Campbell went 0 for 2 with a walk in the first eight innings of the opener. With Texas righty Luke Jackson on the mound in the ninth, Campbell turned on a 2-and-1 pitch and chopped the two-hopper to the left of Jung.

To say that Brooks Robinson or Frank Malzone would have had it is an understatement. Butch Hobson would have had it. Alex Bregman would have had it. And, yes, Rafael Devers would have had it. I believe Jung would have had it 19 out of 20 times, but in this instance the Rangers third baseman moved awkwardly in, and to his left, and the ball ate him up — clanging off his glove, over the shortstop, and into shallow center field as Trevor Story scampered from second to third.

It should have been an error. This is the big leagues.

But this is also 2025 when MLB official scorers are encouraged to call everything a hit.

Commissioner Rob Manfred knows his game needs more offense. As a result, standards have been drastically eroded when it comes to arbitrary fielding judgements. Every questionable call, it seems, is ruled a hit.

So Campbell’s little grounder was scored a hit.

So now we wait.

The ambiguity made life more difficult for Tom McLaughlin, a veteran Red Sox clubhouse manager who works overtime to make sure Sox players get authenticated souvenirs from landmark achievements. McLaughlin has been with the Sox for 40 seasons and remembers negotiating with a guy in St. Petersburg, Fla., who wanted half of John Henry’s portfolio in exchange for David Ortiz’s 500th homer baseball.

“It’s important to get these things for the players,’’ said McLaughlin. “Last year I wanted so badly to be there to get the ball for Mickey Gasper’s first big league hit. I got my steps in on that one because I have to be in the dugout to make sure we get the baseball. Poor Mickey. He never got that hit (0 for 18) and everybody in the dugout wanted it for him so badly.’’

The ball from a player’s first big league hit is a tangible symbol of 15 or more years of Little League, Babe Ruth, AAU, high school, college, and pro showcases, followed by minor league stops in Greenville, Portland, and Worcester. It represents a lot of bus rides, parental road trips, orange slices, and the sweet smell of pine tar in a young man’s bedroom.

The ball means you made it to The Show and you got your first big league hit and you are officially in the Baseball Encyclopedia, right there with Babe Ruth and Roger LaFrancois.

In this spirit, McLaughlin was in the dugout when Campbell came to the plate in the second inning Friday.

“We have to be ready to do it all over again if Kristian gets a hit tonight,’’ said McLaughlin. “Cuz we don’t know if that one from the opener is going to count.’’

Batting against Jack Leiter Friday, Campbell reached on an infield single to Jung in the second inning. The ball was secured by McLaughlin and is on hold, in case Thursday’s hit is taken away.

Before the night was over, Campbell had another single and an RBI, going 2 for 4 in the Sox’ 4-1 loss. His career average is now either .429 (3 for 7) or .286 (2 for 7).

Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @dan_shaughnessy.