Solid opener for closer<\/p>\n
Published 12:17 pm Friday, April 17, 2026<\/p>\n
By Jim Gazzolo<\/p>\n
Cameron Foster always wanted the ball in his hand when the game was on the line.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like being on the big stage,\u201d Foster once said when he was the closer for McNeese State. \u201cIt is where you want to be, to have the game in your hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thursday night, Foster found himself on the biggest of stages. The former Cowboy All-American right-hander made his Major League debut as a member of the Baltimore Orioles in Cleveland.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old had an eventful first outing as a major leaguer. He worked 1\u2154 scoreless innings against the Guardians, allowing two hits and a walk but also striking out three. Foster also nearly got his head taken off by Steven Kwan, who hit a line drive single back up the middle. It forced Foster to hit the dirt.<\/p>\n
Foster called his day \u201cexciting.\u201d<\/p>\n
With his family on hand, Foster got the chance to live out his dream after a lifetime of work.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud of him,\u201d McNeese\u2019s coach, Justin Hill, said by telephone Friday. \u201cHe put in a lot of work to earn that opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hill remembers Foster as one of the players who stuck with the program after the shortened 2020 season due to COVID. He also stayed after Hurricane Laura and helped keep the program going.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Foster was the Cowboys\u2019 closer in each of his last two years with the program before being drafted in the 14th round by the New York Mets in 2022. That year, he earned both Southland Conference Reliever of the Year honors, along with being named the Louisiana Pitcher of the Year.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did whatever we asked of him,\u201d said Hill. \u201cHe would throw as many innings as we needed, depending on the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Foster compiled a 4-2 record with a 1.86 earned run average, 12 saves, and a 0.87 WHIP in 2022. His saves total matched a single-season school record. He struck out 84 batters in 63 innings while making a team-high 29 appearances.<\/p>\n
Foster led the conference in six categories that season, including saves, ERA, strikeouts, batting average against (.164), hits allowed (35), and runs allowed (17). He ranked second in the conference in walks allowed with 20.<\/p>\n
After working mostly as a reliever his first two years in the Mets organization, Foster was traded to the Orioles last July and moved into the bullpen. Before this season began, he had a big spring training for Baltimore, where he made a strong impression.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Over five spring appearances, Foster didn\u2019t allow a run. In six innings this year at Triple A, he had a 10.60 ERA.\u00a0<\/p>\n