The Houston Astros selected Daz Cameron with the 37th overall pick of the 2015 MLB Draft on Monday night. Daz is the son of former Mariners’ great Mike Cameron, and is the spitting image of Mike in center field. The 18-year-old McDonough, GA native is committed to Florida State University, but he will likely weigh his options following today’s exciting developments.
Daz Cameron was ranked by MLB.com as the 6th best prospect in the draft, but his agent is Scott Boras, and he fell due to sign-ability concerns. Cameron is a tremendous athlete at 6’1, and tips the scales at 190 lbs. The Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy grad is said to possess elite hit and field tools, combined with above average run, power and arm tools.
Daz hit .455 with 8 home runs and 32 RBI’s across 25 games this season as a high school senior. Daz bats and throws right-handed just like Mike, and has the same flair in the field. Cameron is slightly slimmer than his father, but should fill out as he matures physically. Daz dazzled at the scouting showcases, and has All Star potential when he arrives in the big leagues in the near future.
Mariners’ fans are very familiar with Daz’s father Mike, who starred in Seattle for 4 years between 2000 and 2003. Mike Cameron was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds as part of the return package for Ken Griffey Jr. It must have been extremely difficult to replace Junior in the Mariners’ outfield, but Cameron’s charismatic personality and powerful stroke were the perfect fit. M’s fans will never forget May 2, 2002 when Mike clubbed 4 home runs in Chicago against the White Sox.
Mike’s best season in the Emerald City came in 2001, when he hit .267 with 25 home runs, 110 RBI’s and 34 stolen bases across 150 games in center field. Cameron appeared in 1 All Star Game (2001), and won a pair of gold gloves in center field (2001, 2003) during his tenure in the Pacific Northwest. The electrifying center fielder finished his Mariners’ career with a .256 average, 87 home runs, 344 RBI’s and 106 stolen bases over the course of 610 games.
On behalf of Mariners’ fans everywhere, I would like to congratulate Daz, Mike and the rest of the Cameron family on this very special day. I loved watching the senior Cameron patrol center field in Seattle, and I hope to see Daz follow in his father’s footsteps soon (even if it is as a visitor with the division rival Astros).
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