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What to Expect from Royals Pitcher Noah Cameron

Originally posted on New Baseball Media
By Chris Studley | Last updated Apr 30, 2025 11:04 AM ET

To replace their left-handed ace, the Royals are calling up another left-hander, Noah Cameron. The 25-year-old Cameron will make his MLB debut on April 30, nearly four years after the Royals drafted him out of college.

A Look at Cameron

Royals prospect Noah Cameron had an outstanding freshman season with Central Arkansas six years ago, putting himself on the map with 91 strikeouts over 94.2 IP as a freshman. He pitched well again in the shortened 2020 season with 31 strikeouts over 28 frames but missed all of 2021 thanks to Tommy John surgery.

Kansas City selected Cameron in the seventh round of the 2021 MLB Draft.

Since then, the 25-year-old steadily moved up the organizational ladder. Cameron struck out 99 over 65.2 IP when he returned in 2022, then put up good strikeout numbers again in 2023 despite a 5.28 ERA.

The Royals left-hander pitched very well last season between Double-A and Triple-A. Cameron earned himself a spot on the Royals’ 40-man roster, as Kansas City selected his contract last November.

Back with Omaha (AAA) to start 2025, Cameron struck out 27 over 22 frames. Opposing batters hit just .188 of the lefty.

His arsenal is somewhat comparable to Jordan Montgomery in terms of stuff and movement. The 25-year-old left-hander sits in the 92-94 MPH range with his four-seam fastball but has hit as high as 96 MPH. It has roughly average carry (16.1” IVB) but works well with the other offerings in his arsenal.

Noah Cameron Pitch Movement 2025 Via New Baseball Media

Perhaps his best offering is his changeup, which plays off the fastball very well. Cameron’s changeup has roughly 10-15 MPH separation from the fastball, sometimes sitting in the low-80s but as low as 78 MPH. Between that, the fade, and run, Cameron posted a 44.2% Whiff% off the changeup with Omaha.

The other big offering in his arsenal is a hard, bending knuckle-curve that’ll sit in the low-to-mid-80s with biting action that works in on righties and away from lefties. It gave opposing hitters fits, in terms of trying to pick up the action on it.

He’ll also throw a slider with varying movement, sometimes mirroring his curveball while also looking like a cutter at times. It netted him a 34.7% Whiff% in Triple-A.

Noah Cameron is scheduled to start for the Royals against the Rays on April 30.

Analysis

Cameron slots in the Royals rotation to replace Cole Ragans in the interim. Ragans left his start last week against the Rockies with a left groin strain and while the lefty is progression, he won’t start yet.

Thus, it may not be a long stint for Cameron at the MLB level. But, it’ll give Cameron a chance to establish himself as an option should Kansas City sustain additional injuries.

The Royals have been quite lucky in terms of having stability within their rotation over the last two years. Last season, three of the other AL Central team had eight pitchers make five or more starts, while the Tigers had 10 (note: two those pitchers, Tyler Holton and Alex Faedo, were primary relievers).

Kansas City had six and thus far, had seen Michael Lorenzen, Seth Lugo, Kris Bubic, Michael Wacha, and Ragans go through the rotation six times without needing a replacement starter.

This article first appeared on New Baseball Media and was syndicated with permission.

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