Starters get the wins and closers get the saves, but any good pitching staff has that guy who can come in when needed for a spot start or eat a couple innings to keep the team in the game. For the Shorebirds, Cameron Roth seems to be that guy.
The lefty makes it two weeks out of three that a player from UNC-Wilmington has been selected as SotW (Michael Rooney was the other.) Roth was picked in the 29th round of last year’s draft and spent last season at Bluefield, where he went 2-4, 4.23 in 12 starts and compiled a 1.25 WHIP.
Cameron isn’t a stranger to starting, since that was his role with Bluefield, but for much of this year his role with the Shorebirds has been that of a long reliever – on average his relief stint was about 3 innings. Thus far his numbers have been reasonably good, as he’s compiled a 3-1 record with a 4.91 ERA, allowing 60 hits and 23 walks in 55 innings pitched, while fanning 39. Perhaps the highlight of his season was getting the start (one of three he’s made this year) at Hagerstown June 16, shutting out the Suns for 5 innings and picking up the win.
So what lies ahead for the 22-year-old Virginian? While he’s not thought of as a prospect yet, he seems to have potential once he leaves Delmarva – his home/road splits suggest he doesn’t much care for pitching here (6.46 ERA at Perdue Stadium, 3.73 in other parks.) He may be a nice addition to Frederick’s staff next year with a strong finish and solid spring.
