TORONTO — Daz Cameron went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in his first MLB start since 2023 on Sunday, four weeks after the Doosan Bears released him.
The Toronto Blue Jays promoted the 29-year-old outfielder on Aug. 16. He signed a minor league deal July 28.
Cameron hit .214 with a .627 OPS and three home runs in 42 games for Doosan. The KBO club cut him July 15, citing “performance and roster needs.”
His strikeout rate in Korea spiked to 28%. Exit velocities fell below his MLB averages.
“I felt lost at the plate,” Cameron told SBS News. “I doubted whether I’d ever get another shot.”
Toronto’s outfield was depleted. George Springer hit the IL with a strained oblique. Daulton Varsho went down with a knee issue.
The Blue Jays needed a right-handed bat with defensive flexibility. Cameron was hitting .298 with a .372 OBP in 15 games for Triple-A Buffalo.
Manager John Schneider: “He’s earned it. He’s been a professional through everything, and we need his energy.”
Cameron’s RBI double came off Yankees reliever Clay Holmes — a 97 mph fastball driven at 106.4 mph exit velocity. The hit gave Toronto a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning.
He also made a diving catch in left field, robbing Aaron Judge of extra bases.
“I never stopped believing,” Cameron said. “God had a plan. I just had to stay ready.”
His sprint speed registered in the 90th percentile Sunday. The tools remain elite.
Cameron is arbitration-eligible in 2027. A strong September could secure a guaranteed contract for next season.
The Blue Jays sit in the Wild Card race. Cameron’s right-handed bat holds value against left-handed pitching down the stretch.
One scout, speaking anonymously: “He’s always had the tools. Maybe a stint in Korea humbled him and made him appreciate the little things.”
Cameron’s path mirrors others who used KBO or NPB stints to reset — Chris Flexen, Josh Lindblom. But his return came in weeks, not years.
He worked with a sports psychologist in Korea to manage the pressure of being a foreign star. The mental adjustment, he said, was as important as the mechanical one.
KBO numbers vs. MLB return
| Metric | Doosan Bears (2026) | Triple-A Buffalo (2026) | MLB Return (Aug. 17) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batting average | .214 | .298 | .250 (1-for-4) |
| OPS | .627 | .372 OBP | RBI double |
| Home runs | 3 | — | 0 |
| Strikeout rate | 28% | — | — |
| Exit velocity on key hit | — | — | 106.4 mph |
Toronto optioned Cameron to Triple-A on Aug. 20 to make room for a bullpen arm. He is expected to return under September roster expansion.
No one in the Blue Jays organization is calling this a finished story. Cameron isn’t either.
“The door may close,” he said. “But it rarely locks.”
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Why did the Doosan Bears release Daz Cameron?
- A: The Doosan Bears released Cameron on July 15, citing performance and roster needs, after he hit .214 with a .627 OPS and three home runs in 42 games, with a spike in strikeout rate to 28% and declining exit velocities.
- Q: How did Daz Cameron get another MLB opportunity?
- A: After his release, Cameron signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on July 28. He performed well at Triple-A Buffalo, hitting .298 with a .372 OBP in 15 games, and was promoted on Aug. 16 due to outfield injuries to George Springer and Daulton Varsho.
- Q: What was Cameron’s performance in his first MLB start since 2023?
- A: Cameron went 1-for-4 with an RBI double off Clay Holmes, driven at 106.4 mph exit velocity, giving Toronto a 3-2 lead. He also made a diving catch to rob Aaron Judge of extra bases, and his sprint speed was in the 90th percentile.
Extended Reading
Sources: MLive.com ; Yahoo Sports ; SBS News