Daz Cameron

Cameron joins the Athletics after spending all of the 2023 season in Triple-A as a member of the Baltimore organization, and he performed well with Norfolk with a slash of .268/.346/.452 with 16 homers along with 23 steals across 110 games. The 27-year-old hasn't faced MLB pitching since 2022, and he has looked overmatched in his time at the highest level with a .597 OPS and 77 strikeouts over 244 plate appearances. The landing spot does offer Cameron a chance to earn a roster spot with a strong showing in the Cactus League and he's not bereft of talent, but Cameron enters 2024 without much likelihood of helping fantasy rosters this summer.

Formerly a top prospect, Cameron has lost some of his luster in recent years. As a 25-year-old in 2022, Cameron appeared in 21 games for the Tigers and slashed .219/.286/.344. He spent most of the season with Triple-A Toledo, where he played 98 games and slashed .240/.312/.392. Cameron did contribute a promising 10 home runs and 19 stolen bases for the Mud Hens, but he's yet to come close to that kind of production in the majors. Making regular contact has been an issue, as he's striking out just under 32 percent of the time for his career at the MLB level. At this point, it's fair to wonder whether Cameron's ceiling might be as a fourth outfielder. Detroit was certainly hoping for a bit more when they acquired Cameron from Houston as part of the return for ace Justin Verlander in 2017. Fantasy managers can probably mostly look past Cameron at this point, though he will have an opportunity for a fresh start, as he was claimed off waivers by the Orioles in November and will have a chance to compete for a role during spring training. His age-26 season could be his last opportunity to make a splash in the majors.

Cameron would have likely benefited from more seasoning at Triple-A after slashing a meager .214/.330/.377 during his first prolonged stint at that level in 2019. However, last season's cancellation of the minor-league campaign shut down that possibility, and Cameron predictably struggled after receiving his first big-league callup in September. The speedy outfielder slashed .193/.220/.263 over 59 plate appearances and logged a 32.2 K%, which is not far from what you'd expect given the fact that Cameron missed all of summer camp and had little time to train prior to the callup. On a positive note, the young prospect collected 10 hits over his final 30 at-bats, perhaps making a case for an Opening Day roster spot in 2021. Cameron's defense and speed are his primary assets and should earn him a long look in the majors, but he'll need to improve his contact skills to stick as more than a fourth outfielder.

Cameron's Triple-A manager (Doug Mientkiewicz) got fired after the season, in part because the organization's desired center fielder of the future now owns a .214 AVG in 135 games at that level after having success at High-A and Double-A. There actually were some positives to take away: Despite hitting .214 with a 28.8 K%, Cameron was only 16 percent worse than the average International League hitter. He was the fourth-youngest hitter in the league but ranked in the top-20 in steals (17) and BB% (11.7), all while playing quality defense in center field. Cameron can use the whole field, he just struggled to make consistent hard contact, although he can still show above-average raw power when he connects. He is only heading into his age-23 season, so perhaps with more of a player's manager, he will be able to unlock something. Regardless, the Tigers will likely see what they have in him sometime this summer.

Cameron is quietly knocking on the door of the big leagues in an organization bereft of outfield talent after climbing three levels of the minor leagues in 2018. His 53-game run in the Eastern League was the best stretch of Cameron's pro career. He showcased an ideal all-fields approach (43.5 Pull%, 32.7 Oppo%), good patience (11.1 BB%), above-average power (.185 ISO), plus speed and above-average center-field defense, all while striking out at a manageable clip (23.5 K%). Cameron did not look out of place next to many of the game's best hitting prospects in the AFL, where he hit .342/.435/.468. He is still honing his craft as a hitter and as a base stealer (33-for-51 on SB attempts, including the AFL), but should have the green light on the rebuilding Tigers. The clear top center fielder in the entire organization, Cameron should get the call this summer if he holds his own against Triple-A pitching.

While Cameron is clearly the most exciting of the offensive prospects traded to the Tigers in the Justin Verlander trade, he is not as toolsy as his 2017 numbers or last name (he’s Mike Cameron’s son) may suggest. After a down 2016, he did an excellent job re-establishing his value at Low-A, particularly in the second half. Still just 20 years old, he was 28 percent better than the average hitter in the Midwest League while showing off quality power and speed, although neither tool projects as plus. After displaying significant swing-and-miss issues prior to last year, he was able to post his best strikeout rate (21.5 percent) since he was in the Gulf Coast League. Cameron also walked at an excellent clip (9.2 percent) for a future center fielder. He could eventually be a Shin-Soo Choo-esque fantasy outfielder who chips in positive contributions everywhere without being a standout in any one category. The Tigers should send him to High-A this year and he could reach the majors in 2020.

In terms of talent, Cameron was considered among the cream of the crop of the 2015 draft class. However, a high price tag pushed Cameron into the supplemental first round, with the Astros ultimately pulling the trigger at No. 37 overall. After spending his first professional season in rookie ball, Cameron split the first few months of 2016 between short-season ball and Low-A before a broken left pointer finger ended his campaign. The results with Low-A Quad Cities were a bit troubling, with Cameron striking out 33 times in 87 plate appearances. He's shown barely any power so far as a professional (two homers) but there's projectability with his 6-foot-2 frame, and his athleticism should carry him through the lower levels in the years ahead. Cameron has the pedigree -- he's the son of Mike Cameron, for those that hadn't heard -- but he's far enough way to where those in standard keeper leagues can safely watch from a distance.

As most people know by now, Cameron, the 37th overall pick of the 2015 draft, is the son of former All-Star Mike Cameron. Based on his pedigree and raw athletic ability, the soon-to-be 19-year-old was considered a top-10 prospect from his draft, but his asking price kept him from being selected that early. The Astros may have gotten a steal, as he profiles as a toolsy center fielder who will develop average pop and play strong defense. In 51 games between the GCL Astros and Greeneville Astros, he hit .251/.353/.309 with zero home runs, 17 RBI and 24 steals with an 11.8% walk rate. He is the kind of prospect whose numbers in the lower levels of the minors won't give an accurate representation of his big league potential, as he will be mostly projection over the next couple years. Cameron will be brought along slowly by the Astros, so close to a full season with Low-A Quad Cities is likely in the cards in 2016.