| Cam Booser | |
|---|---|
| Chicago White Sox – No. 71 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1992-05-04)May 4, 1992 (age 33) Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 19, 2024, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 4–7 |
| Earned run average | 4.28 |
| Strikeouts | 78 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Cameron Joseph Booser (born May 4, 1992) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theChicago White Sox ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theBoston Red Sox.
Booser attendedFife High School inFife, Washington, and played for the school's baseball team as apitcher andfirst baseman. He was named his league'smost valuable player in 2009.[1] Booser broke hisfemur during his sophomore year of high school while playing football, requiring knee surgery. He also broke avertebra when he was a senior while lifting weights.[2] Booser enrolled atOregon State University to playcollege baseball for theOregon State Beavers. Booser hadTommy John surgery during his freshman year of college[2] and transferred toCentral Arizona College.[3]
TheMinnesota Twins signed Booser as an undrafted free agent on August 12, 2013.[4] He made his professional debut that same year with theGCL Twins of theGulf Coast League. In 2014, Booser pitched for theElizabethton Twins of theRookie-levelAppalachian League. In 19 relief appearances he pitched to a 1–5win-loss record in31+1⁄3innings pitched.[5] Booser spent the 2015 season with theSingle-ACedar Rapids Kernels. He had surgery in August 2015 to correct alabrum tear. In December 2015, hissacrum was broken when he was hit by a car.[6]
Booser split the 2016 campaign between Cedar Rapids and the High–AFort Myers Miracle. In 21 appearances out of thebullpen for the two affiliates, he compiled an 0–4 record and 8.53 ERA with 31 walks and 34 strikeouts across25+1⁄3 innings pitched.[7]
In 2017, Booser was suspended 50 games after testing positive forcannabis.[8][9] After making three appearances for Fort Myers during the season, Booser retired on November 20, 2017.[2] Booser returned to theSeattle area to work as a carpenter.[2][10] Missing baseball, he began to give pitching lessons in 2020, and found that he could throw afastball at 96 miles per hour (154 km/h).[2]
On July 4, 2021, Booser came out of retirement to sign with theChicago Dogs of theAmerican Association of Professional Baseball, anindependent league baseball league. He posted a 1–2 record and 1.93earned run average (ERA) with 10 walks and 39 strikeouts across23+1⁄3 innings pitched.[11]
On February 16, 2022, Booser signed a minor league contract with theArizona Diamondbacks. He pitched for theAmarillo Sod Poodles of theDouble–ATexas League,[12] and was released on July 18. With the Sod Poodles, Booser pitched to a 1–1 record and 6.48 ERA with 22 walks and 30 strikeouts in 25 innings over 19 relief appearances.[5]
On August 8, 2022, Booser signed with theStaten Island FerryHawks of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball, and was traded to theLancaster Barnstormers the next day.[13] In 23 games for Lancaster, Booser posted a 4.63 ERA with 12 hits, six walks, and 15 strikeouts across11+2⁄3 innings pitched.[14]
On February 6, 2023, Booser signed with theBoston Red Sox. He pitched for theWorcester Red Sox of theTriple–AInternational 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 tospring training as a non-roster player.[10] On April 19, 2024, Booser was selected to the40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[15] He made his major-league debut that evening, pitching the ninth inning of the Red Sox 8–1 win against thePittsburgh Pirates.[16][17] Booser was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on June 24[18] and recalled to Boston on July 5 after relieverChris Martin was placed on theinjured list.[19]
Booser finished the 2024 season 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 43 relief appearances for Boston. The Red Sox named him the winner of theTony Conigliaro Award for the season, which recognizes a "Major Leaguer who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination, and courage."[20] He finished his season with Worcester 2-2 with a 5.91 ERA in eight games.[14]
On December 21, 2024, the Red Sox traded Booser to theChicago White Sox in exchange for minor league pitcher Yhoiker Fajardo.[21]
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