By MATT PIKE
A longtime dream came true in 2025 for St. Joseph's Noah Cameron making his major league debut for the team he grew up rooting for.
Multiple injuries to the Kansas City Royals rotation made the front office make the call to bring Cameron up from Triple A Omaha after an impressive Spring Training.
Making his major league debut on April 30th, Cameron says he felt all the emotions you would expect to feel
"Overwhelmed with emotion, nerves, excitement, just super amped up just to be there,” Cameron tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post at the Royals Rally. “And I think the biggest difference was I was there to try to earn a spot to stay, it’s like hey let’s get you to the major leagues, well then they’re like hey we don’t want to get you to the major leagues, we want you to stay in the major leagues.”
Cameron went back to Omaha after pitching a near no hitter in his debut but was called up two weeks later and never went back down finishing out the season with the Royals.
The St. Joseph Central alum, for his stellar season, was named the Royals Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year. A trait many fans noticed from Cameron, that made him a fan favorite, was his composure on the mound.
Cameron says that composure on the mound and ability to not let the game get away from him, comes from his competitiveness
"Like I’d give up those runs, those home runs, and it’s immediately like not necessarily like I’m mad, it’s not necessarily frustration, like yes I’m upset I gave up a pitch to hit and he hit it, but for pitchers that’s out of our control in a sense of after we let go of the ball anything can happen, like yes can I place it in a better spot or something like that, for sure, but I think it’s just more of a competitive mode of man I gave up a solo home run, that sucked, but like I have to face this next batter and not give up another one,” Cameron explains.
Cameron recalls a moment like this against the New York Yankees, giving up a longshot to Aaron Judge in the opening inning of the game. Cameron didn't give up another run until the fourth inning.
Cameron finished his rookie campaign with a 9-7 record and a 2.99 ERA, posting 114 strikeouts, and coming fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting.
Now in his second Royals Spring Training camp, Cameron says he's excited for this year in Surprise, Arizona to feel different
"Excited to not have to push over the edge, where I feel like last Spring Training I was trying to earn a spot, so I was coming in guns blazing, throwing as hard as I possibly could to show them hey I want this spot really bad,” Cameron says. “And now, thankfully, we’re like hey let’s prepare you to be 100% ready come end of March, instead of being 100% ready at the middle of February, so excited to just come in, still just compete my butt off and fight everyday with the guys.”
Cameron could likely have a rotation spot locked up, but will compete with pitchers such as Bailey Falter, Ryan Bergert, and Stephen Kolek this spring.
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