SEMO Baseball’s Josh Cameron leaves lasting legacy in two-year career

The SEMO baseball program has had countless impactful players come through the program over the years.

Among them is outfielder Josh Cameron.

Cameron hails from Pflugerville, Texas, and is in his second and final season with the Redhawks.

He got his start collegiately at Clarendon College, a community college in Texas, where he played in six games in 2020 as he had five hits and four RBIs.

It wasn’t until Cameron transferred to Butler Community College in Kansas that he broke out.

He was a First-Team National Junior College Athletic Association member, hit 25 home runs and drove in 73 runs in 52 games, all while batting .412 and reaching base at a .518 clip.

“It was hard work and being around the right people,” Cameron said of what allowed him to break out at Butler CC. “Not that I was ever around the wrong people but the more you hang around the people you’re supposed to hang around, they bring out the best in you.”

“I credit Butler Community College for getting the best out of me every day,” Cameron said. “When you’re in JUCO you’re grinding day-by-day. If you don’t have someone there that wants to keep pushing you it makes it harder. I’ve got nothing but respect for all the coaches over at Butler and all the teammates I got to play with.”

After his breakout year at Butler CC, Cameron made the jump to Division I, transferring to Southeast Missouri State University.

“One thing I remember vividly is the conversations I was able to have with Coach (Andy) Sawyers,” Cameron said. “I remember how down to earth and how honest of a guy he was. He told you what it was and didn’t beat around the bush. He’s a great communicator and I felt like it would be the best fit for myself.”

Sayers had high praise for Cameron’s abilities on the field.

“He’s one of the most talented kids I’ve ever coached,” Sawyers said. “In terms of how twitchy he is, his bat speed and the foot speed, he’s a super talented kid.”

But, that isn’t what Sawyers is most proud of.

“I’m proud of the growth he went through as a young man,” Sawyers said. “I coach baseball because of kids like him. He’s kind of rough around the edges and needed to grow up in terms of learning to control himself and his emotions. He’s a fiery competitor and I was kind of like that. He’s obviously a super awesome baseball player but he’s an awesome kid with a big heart and I’m just proud of him as a human.”

Cameron arrived in Cape Girardeau in 2022 but was forced to miss the season due to NCAA transfer regulations.

“Everyone will tell you they were ready as soon as they came in,” Cameron said. “If you want to take a positive and be optimistic about what had happened it’s that I got an extra year to put my head down and keep grinding. I didn’t want to waste a whole year of work I could put in.”

When he was finally able to play, Cameron clicked instantly in 2023, starting in all 56 games for the Redhawks.

In those 56 games, Cameron led the Redhawks in home runs (16), RBIs (51), hits (65) and slugging percentage (.632).

“I think confidence within myself and having guys around me who wanted me to succeed,” Cameron said of what allowed him to click. “It’s easy when you have 37 brothers on the team who want you to go out there and win just as badly as you want yourself to win.”

Cameron’s impressive numbers in 2023 earned him Second-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference Honors.

That success set the stage for Cameron in 2024, but it didn’t carry over to begin the season.

Through the first nine games, Cameron was hitting just .176 with one home run and four RBIs while striking out 20 times.

“I don’t look at numbers too much,” Cameron said. “I was just a little late for a long time I would say. But, as the season goes on you want to try and build timing and keep getting better.”

Perhaps the early season slump was in part because teams had video on Cameron, whereas in 2023 they didn’t.

“Video gets out,” Cameron said. “They know what I can hit and they’ve seen stuff that I struggle with. If they were smart, they’re going to go an attack me in the ways I was struggling and that’s what they were doing for the longest time. I had to figure out how to make an adjustment.”

Despite the nine-game slump, Cameron rebounded in a massive way, finishing the year with 13 home runs and 49 RBIs.

Cameron was rewarded for his impressive season on Tuesday as the OVC announced he was a member of the First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference.

Cameron and the Redhawks finished the regular season with an overall record of 30-24 and an 18-9 record in the OVC.

Up next for the Redhawks is the OVC Tournament, where the Redhawks will be the No. 2 seed and play on Thursday, May 23, in Marion, Ill.

“It’s so fun,” Cameron said. “You’re playing with something on the line. It’s super competitive.”