At 18, Collier gets taste of pro life headlining Reds Caravan
COLUMBUS, Ohio — It was Friday evening at a mall, Polaris Fashion Place, and 18-year-old Cam Collier wasn’t there to hang around with mates or buy groceries like many youngsters would possibly with a winter weekend simply getting began.
Instead, Collier was among the many headliners on the northern leg of Reds Caravan.
“We were joking earlier that he should be a senior in high school right now,” Reds common supervisor Nick Krall stated.
Collier was the 18th total choice within the 2022 Draft after the third baseman graduated early from highschool in Georgia. He attended Chipola Junior College in Florida to be reclassified for Draft eligibility. When he signed in July, he acquired a $5 million bonus, properly above the $3.659 million slot worth for the 18th choose.
Ranked this week because the No. 69 total prospect by MLB Pipeline, Collier continues to be within the early levels of his professional profession. The Reds featured extra expertise from their participant growth system on this yr’s caravan legs, and Collier is the youngest on the highway. He’s been getting a smaller style of the publicity he would get within the large leagues.
“It’s been superb to satisfy all of the followers that may be cheering you on in the event you make it to that park. It’s enjoyable constructing a relationship with them,” Collier stated.
Hundreds of followers turned out in Columbus to satisfy the Reds’ contingent that included Collier, Krall, broadcasting icon Marty Brennaman, Reds Hall of Famer Chris Sabo, Major League infielder Alejo Lopez, Minor League infielder Tyler Callihan, broadcaster Jim Day and mascot Gapper. Following a Q&A session emceed by Day, followers lined up for autographs.
Before reaching Columbus, the group spent Friday touring round southeast Ohio and visited Peebles, Athens, Lancaster and Zanesville. On Saturday, they had been scheduled to go west to Lima and Dayton.
“To be able to talk with them and create relationships has been amazing,” Collier stated of his colleagues.
“Good kid. He’s been nice to hang around with,” Krall said of Collier. “I didn’t know about his love of comic books. He’s very quiet. It’s been nice to get to know him a little bit here and there.”
“I know how important that is. With my high school, we needed that, too. Being able to be there and support that was amazing,” Collier stated.
On the sector final season, the lefty-hitting Collier performed 9 video games for the group within the Arizona Complex League. He batted .370 with a 1.144 OPS, two house runs and 4 RBIs. After the season, he participated in tutorial league.
“It was really good,” Krall said. “Let’s just take this one day at a time with him and let him continue to develop, but he’s got a lot of talent and a lot of tools. It’s just continuing to make him into a quality Major League player.”
The son of former Major League participant Lou Collier, Cam Collier felt ready for his first style of professional ball, however he nonetheless needed to alter to a better stage of play than beforehand skilled.
“It’s a different thing,” Collier said. “It’s what my Dad told me: It’s longer nine-inning games, better competition and playing against grown men. It’s just a faster pace of game.”
Collier bought a style of being away from house throughout junior faculty and a quick stint within the Cape Cod League. But whereas many youngsters his age are nonetheless dwelling at house, he’s rising up as knowledgeable athlete and getting used to it.
“I think the summer circuit trained me for this, because I was away from my family a lot. But it still sucks not being around my family, my sisters and everything,” Collier said. “They know that I’m chasing my dream, and they support me all the way. They come and see me. It’s been hard, but it’s worth it.”
