Growing up playing baseball, every player dreams of making it to the major leagues and performing in front of thousands of fans. For most, this dream remains just that—a dream. After spending years in the minor leagues, the goal can start to feel unattainable. However, for Kameron Misner, that dream became a reality on Friday night.
When Richie Palacios hit the 10-day IL on Friday, the Tampa Bay Rays called on their 26-year-old prospect, Kameron Misner. The native of Poplar Bluff, MO, is one of the best players to ever come out of the University of Missouri. It's been quite the journey, and he'll be looking to make the most of this opportunity.
Kameron Misner's going to The Show, y'all!
— Durham Bulls (@DurhamBulls) August 2, 2024
He would make his MLB debut when he first appears in a game for @RaysBaseball.
Congrats, Kameron! pic.twitter.com/BIQJV2P56J
Kameron Misner's Collegiate Career
Coming out of high school, Misner always knew he wanted to stay close to home and attend the University of Missouri. The third-highest ranked player in the state committed to Mizzou and, despite being drafted by the Kansas City Royals, opted to play college baseball.
In his freshman year at Mizzou, Misner didn't disappoint, earning a spot on the Freshman All-American team. He was impressive at the plate, hitting 7 home runs with a .282 batting average. The true freshman was best known for his activity on the base paths, swiping 17 bags in his first season playing college ball.
Misner built off that momentum and got off to a red-hot start in his sophomore campaign. Unfortunately, at the start of SEC play, he broke his foot and was forced to miss the final six weeks. In his 34 games played, the phenom led his team with a .360 batting average and was expected to be among the best players in college baseball.
By the time his junior year began, Misner had made a name for himself and was considered one of the best players in the country. He enjoyed a career year at the plate, setting personal bests in nearly every statistical category. As one of the top prospects in the nation, Misner was selected in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins.
Misner's Professional Career
Once he reached the professional level, things took a turn for Misner. In the Marlins system, he had just reached Double-A when he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. The power hitter was struggling with making consistent contact at the plate.
According to many scouts, Misner was continually viewed as a below-average hitter with loads of power. In his Triple-A career, he holds a slash line of .236/.360/.453 over nearly a thousand at-bats. This gave validity to everything that scouts had been saying about the prospect.
The Rays are hoping that Misner can make an impact for them over the coming weeks as Palacios is expected to be out for over a month.
In his first major league appearance last night, Misner pinch-hit in the top of the ninth inning, representing the potential winning run. With two outs, he unfortunately hit a routine fly out to the left fielder, and the Rays fell 3-2 to the Astros.
The Rays are back in action on Saturday, and Misner is expected to see more opportunities in the coming days. The Missouri product will look to earn more playing time and show the organization what he's capable of for the future.