A major league swing by a minor league player prompted a playful hit from his dad.
During a March 7 Grapefruit League game between Tampa Bay and Toronto, Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon invited Cameron Seitzer to suit up.
Cameron’s father, Kevin Seitzer, a major league baseball player for 11 seasons, coaches third base for Toronto.
Cameron plays first base for the Montgomery Biscuits, Tampa Bay’s Double-A affiliate in the Southern League.
“I was very fortunate that Joe Maddon let me go. I was thankful to play a few innings and get a few at-bats. I got lucky,” Cameron said.
Cameron made a home run against his father’s team. “That was unbelievable,” he said. As Cameron rounded third base, Kevin tipped his hat. “I winked at him,” Cameron said. “It was awesome.”
Afterward the father had some words with his son. “My dad was very happy that it happened, but he said he was happy for me because it was during spring practice. But if I get called up and it happens in regular season, it won’t be the same scenario,” Cameron said.
There was another father-son moment. In one inning, Cameron was playing first base and his father was sent to coach first base.
“That was really cool,” Cameron said. “It calmed me down a lot, just like old times when he coached me. He has been a great dad. He is always there for me if I needed anything whether it’s with baseball or with family.”
Making his MLB debut with the Kansas City Royals in September 1986, Kevin played there five years before playing for Milwaukee, Oakland and finishing with Cleveland in 1997. A first baseman and third baseman, he retired that year with a career batting average of .295.
Following in his father’s footsteps
Runner-up for American League (AL) Rookie of the Year in 1987, Kevin hit .323 with 15 home runs and his 207 hits tied a MLB rookie record. He was selected to the AL All-Star team. He also was an all-star in 1995 and was inducted into the Eastern Illinois University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.
“He has taught me everything he has learned, the advantages and disadvantages of the game,” said Cameron, 24. “It has helped me. It was really cool to be around the clubhouse and that environment. That is where it all began.”
His uncle, Brad Seitzer, played seven seasons with the Seattle Mariners. His stepbrother, Nick Graffeo, was drafted by Kansas City in 2010 out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and played with four minor league clubs.
“It is really a cool thing that our family has; I just try to keep it going,” Cameron said.
Kevin’s advice to his son is to have fun. “That is the key to the game — and play as hard as you can,” Cameron said.
That has allowed Cameron to play without high family expectations. “Everybody has a dream to make it to the major leagues. That is what we are all here competing to do. [My dad] worked his tail off to make a name for himself. My biggest thing is to create a name for myself,” Cameron said. “I hope this a stop along the way.”
Along with a baseball legacy, his parents left Cameron a spiritual one. “They raised us up Christian. My family was big in going to church.”
‘Jesus is everything’
In 2001, at age 11, Cameron asked Christ to come into his life.
“Jesus is everything. He (will) always be everything in our lives. I look [to] Him for inspirational things, pray constantly, read His Word and see what happens. There are a bunch of different influences, and I always try to go back to the Lord. If I feel like I am swaying one way, I try to get locked into the Word.”
His favorite verses are Proverbs 3:5–6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
“That is something that I feel like is big in everyday life,” he said.
His faith means “no worries, no stress,” he said. “I am giving all the glory to God. I am trusting Him to make my paths straight (with) whatever happens. Getting the opportunity to play professionally, going to college for three years and playing baseball at the University of Oklahoma was a great time as well. Getting the opportunity to be here in Montgomery is a great time.”
He has batted .238 through the first third of the season with an on-base percentage of .316 and slugging percentage of .311. He was a Southern League All-Star in 2013. He finished the season with a .268 batting average. He won the Southern League Home Run Derby championship. His 77 walks in 2013 set the Biscuits’ single-season record.
He skipped Advanced A, going from Bowling Green, Ohio, in the Midwest League to Double-A. At Bowling Green he was a league all-star with 36 doubles (second in the league), a .307 batting average (fifth) and .386 on-base percentage (fourth).
“I go home every night and thank God. If I go 0-for-4 or 4-for-4, I am going to try to keep that same-level mentality,” he said.
Cameron (6 feet 5 inches, 220 pounds) was drafted in the 11th round in 2011 from Oklahoma and batted more than .300 each season with a career high of .358 in 2011. He was third in the Big 12 Conference in batting averages and was second team All-Big 12.
At the University of Oklahoma he met his wife, Chelsea, who is from Oklahoma City. It was a game changer. “She has been very inspirational for me. Because of her, we have grown closer to the Lord. She’s been amazing. She keeps me levelheaded as well.”
They attend Life Church in Oklahoma City and watch online broadcasts. “That is how we keep going,” Cameron said. Life Church Pastor Craig Groeschel has been a spiritual leader, Cameron noted. “It seems like every time I am watching the services, it just hits home. Anytime I am struggling, his words are very inspirational.”
Each morning Cameron reads his daily devotions and spends “personal time” with the Lord.
He has learned he “can’t do all things by myself. I need help. That is why I lean on God.”
He is in charge of baseball chapel for the Biscuits. Biscuits center fielder Willie Argo said, “I know that [Cameron] is strong in his faith. I wouldn’t say that he preaches a lot, he just lives it. … You never hear him say a bad word about anyone. He is just a nice guy.”
Cameron tries to lead by example. “I try to be a good leader and have a good attitude when I show up at the ballpark. I try to play the game the right way.”
Biscuits reliever Andrew Bellatti calls Cameron “a great leader on and off the field. The way he carries himself, he is helpful. I think that shows how he believes. He definitely brings out good faith.”
Biscuits second baseman Ryan Brett said, “He is a great person. I love to be around him.”
Cameron brings power and “a great eye” to the plate, Brett said. “He plays really well at first base. I love him over there.”
Brett can see the advantages Cameron has had with his father playing professionally. “His dad has been there. He knows the game. He is still in the game. Cameron has been around the game a lot, and I think that could help the team a lot.”
Argo said, “He is a goofy guy. We give him a hard time for it sometimes, but he always brings a positive energy to the field.”
Goofy is probably how Cameron felt when he was 11 years old and playing on an astro turf field. He tripped running from second base to third.
“That was a terrible, embarrassing moment,” he said.
Brett said, “He is fun to be around. When he is at the ballpark he is like a little kid. He loves the game.”
Cameron wants to be himself.
“My biggest thing is to be yourself, be a Christian and lead by example,” he said. “Guys who know that you are a Christian, if they want to hang out with you because of it, that is great, and if not, I am going to be just another guy in the clubhouse and just be everybody’s friend.”
Share with others: