Noah Cameron

Older lefties with mediocre fastball velocity and plus changeups typically put up misleadingly strong numbers against lower-level hitters before getting exposed in the upper levels, but Cameron was able surprise scouts by carving up Double-A and Triple-A hitters in 2024 en route to setting up a 2025 big-league debut. The 25-year-old southpaw's pro debut was delayed until 2022 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery as a junior at Central Arkansas, and the only time Cameron has struggled against pro hitters was in his first taste of Double-A in 2023. His 7.8 percent walk rate in a return to Double-A was strong, but his 5.1 percent walk rate at Triple-A was the 10th best mark among all pitchers with 50-plus innings at Triple-A, and the only real starting pitching prospect to top him was Marlins righty Adam Mazur (4.9 BB%). Cameron doesn't just rely on his plus changeup, as he also mixes in a quality curveball and a useful fourth-pitch cutter. His 92-mph fastball has good life, which allows it to play up in the zone, and he touched 96 mph with the pitch for the first time last year. If he's commanding the ball like he did at Triple-A, he has enough in his repertoire to succeed as a big-league starter. The 6-foot-3 Cameron threw a career-high 128.2 innings last year and should get a look in the Royals rotation early in the year if he picks up where he left off in 2024. Read Past Outlooks