ST. LOUIS — It had been almost 40 years since someone with roots in Poplar Bluff played in the major leagues — until last weekend.
Kameron Misner, a 2016 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School, was called up last week by the Tampa Bay Rays and made his Major League debut last weekend in a series at Houston.
The Rays then made the trip to St. Louis to play the Cardinals in a three-game series at Busch Stadium which concluded Thursday. After not getting to play the first two games, Misner entered Thursday’s game in the bottom of the first inning after Tampa Bay’s starting left fielder was injured — much to the joy of fans from Poplar Bluff.
“I am so happy for all of his success,” Steven Edwards said Thursday after Misner took his spot in left field. “He has worked his rear off to get where he is. He deserves everything he gets.”
If anyone would know, Edwards would, as he was Misner’s high school coach at PBHS.
“Kameron was the hardest-working ballplayer I ever had the privilege of coaching,” Edwards said. “Kameron had that extra gear and embraced any challenge that came his way. Kameron was the athlete all coaches wish to have.”
Edwards said Misner was humble and “always a great teammate.”
“He would always be the first at any offseason (workout) or practice — and he would be the last to leave,” Edwards said. “He would always work on his craft, whether it was taking extra swings in the cage off the tee or taking fly balls in the outfield. … Kameron always had that determined look in his eye — and yet had a way to give you that smile of his to ease the tension.”
Edwards said Misner is the “perfect example” of what a coach looks for in an athlete.
“I was lucky enough to just be a small part of Kameron’s high school baseball career,” Edwards said. “I am blessed and honored to get to say I was able to coach Kam.”
Edwards got to visit with his former player before Thursday’s game, and to see him hit a home run in pregame batting practice.
“As his humble self has always been, he took a few minutes out of his time to come over and visit with me,” Edwards said. “He still had the determined look in his eye and that grin of excitement for the game. I was truly thankful for him taking a few minutes out to visit with me.”
As Misner was on the field, Edwards realized something amazing.
“I watched the crowd look at all the players on the field as their heroes, wishing to be like them one day — and it hit me: ‘Wow, Kameron is that hero for so many,’” Edwards said. “He gets to stand on the biggest stage in Major League Baseball and live out his dream. He is a Major League player that made it.
“It does not matter what name you throw out there that has ever played the game of baseball. Kameron now is in that elite group called Major League Baseball players, As a coach, getting to see a player you coached out there was one of the greatest feels I ever had as a coach — and will forever cherish my time I got to spend with Kam.”