Cameron Joseph Booser (born May 4, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024 at age 31.
| Cam Booser | |
|---|---|
| Boston Red Sox – No. 71 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: May 4, 1992 Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 19, 2024, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 2–3 |
| Earned run average | 3.38 |
| Strikeouts | 43 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
Early life
editBooser attended Fife High School in Fife, Washington, and played for the school's baseball team as a pitcher and first baseman. He was named his league's most valuable player in 2009.[1] Booser broke his femur during his sophomore year of high school while playing football, requiring knee surgery. He also broke a vertebra when he was a senior while lifting weights.[2] Booser enrolled at Oregon State University to play college baseball for the Oregon State Beavers. Booser had Tommy John surgery during his freshman year of college[2] and transferred to Central Arizona College.[3]
Professional career
editMinnesota Twins
editThe Minnesota Twins signed Booser as an undrafted free agent on August 12, 2013.[4] He made his professional debut that same year with the GCL Twins of the Gulf Coast League. In 2014, Booser pitched for the Elizabethton Twins of the Rookie-level Appalachian League. In 19 relief appearances he pitched to a 1–5 win-loss record in 31+1⁄3 innings pitched.[5] Booser spent the 2015 season with the Single-A Cedar Rapids Kernels. He had surgery in August 2015 to correct a labrum tear. In December 2015, his sacrum was broken when he was hit by a car.[6]
Booser split the 2016 campaign between Cedar Rapids and the High–A Fort Myers Miracle. In 21 appearances out of the bullpen for the two affiliates, he compiled an 0–4 record and 8.53 ERA with 34 strikeouts across 25+1⁄3 innings pitched.[7]
In 2017, Booser was suspended 50 games after testing positive for cannabis.[8][9] After making three appearances for Fort Myers during the season, Booser retired on November 20, 2017.[2] Booser returned to the Seattle area to work as a carpenter.[2][10] Missing baseball, he began to give pitching lessons in 2020, and found that he could throw a fastball at 96 miles per hour (154 km/h).[2]
Chicago Dogs
editOn July 4, 2021, Booser came out of retirement to sign with the Chicago Dogs of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an independent league baseball league. He posted a 1–2 record and 1.93 earned run average (ERA) with 39 strikeouts across 23+1⁄3 innings pitched.[11]
Arizona Diamondbacks
editOn February 16, 2022, Booser signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He pitched for the Amarillo Sod Poodles of the Double–A Texas League,[12] and was released on July 18. With the Sod Poodles, Booser pitched to a 1–1 record and 6.48 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 19 relief appearances.[5]
Lancaster Barnstormers
editOn August 8, 2022, Booser signed with the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, and was traded to the Lancaster Barnstormers the next day.[13] In 23 games for Lancaster, Booser posted a 4.63 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 11+2⁄3 innings pitched.
Boston Red Sox
editOn February 6, 2023, Booser signed with the Boston Red Sox and pitched for the Worcester Red Sox of the Triple–A International League, logging a 4–3 record and 4.99 ERA with 66 strikeouts across 48 relief outings.[11] In 2024, the Red Sox invited him to spring training as a non-roster player.[10] On April 19, 2024, Booser was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[14] He made his major-league debut that evening, pitching the ninth inning of the Red Sox 8–1 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates.[15][16] On June 24, Booser was optioned to Triple-A Worcester.[17]
On July 5, Booser was recalled to Boston after reliever Chris Martin was placed on the injured list.[18]
References
edit- ^ "All-league baseball". The Seattle Times. May 20, 2009. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Buchanan, Zach. "Cam Booser retired in 2017 and joined a carpenters union. Now he's back and throwing 100 mph". The Athletic. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ "Booser goes from injury prone footballer to baseball prospect". www.thegazette.com. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ "Meet The Kernels – Cam Booser". www.thegazette.com. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ a b "Cam Booser College, Amateur, Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ "Cam Booser continues to perservere and pitch for Cedar Rapids Kernels". www.thegazette.com. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ "Cam Booser - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
- ^ "Booser, Marsh suspended 50 games each". MiLB.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ "Cam Booser walked away from baseball in 2017 and became a carpenter. Now he's in the major leagues". AP News. April 19, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ a b "This carpenter is throwing 99 mph in Red Sox camp". MLB.com. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Morrison-O’Day, Katie (July 7, 2023). "Reliever Cam Booser, a lifelong Red Sox fan, is earning high-leverage innings with WooSox". masslive. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ "Cam Booser continues to improve after five-year hiatus from baseball". Amarillo Globe-News. June 14, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ "Cam Booser Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ "Red Sox Designate Joe Jacques For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ Abraham, Peter (April 19, 2024). "An improbable path finally led pitcher Cam Booser to the majors". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ Dotson, Issy Ronald, Kevin (April 20, 2024). "How this 31-year-old former carpenter overcame injuries to finally make his MLB debut for Boston Red Sox". CNN. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Red Sox's Cam Booser: Sent back to minors". CBSSports.com. June 24, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ csmith@masslive.com, Christopher Smith | (July 5, 2024). "Alex Cora explains Red Sox roster move, promoting lefty who got hit 'hard'". masslive. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)