Perrotto: Cam Devanney Learns to Stay in Present
Cam Devanney waited a long time to reach the major leagues.
However, the Pittsburgh Pirates infielder also realizes that he is not locked to stay in the big leagues beyond this season, which ends this afternoon with a game against the Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Devanney hasn’t done much to inspire confidence that the Pirates will keep him on the 40-man roster when housekeeping begins in a few days. Since making his MLB debut on Aug. 31, the 28-year-old is hitting .118/.143/.147 in 13 games.
Devanney hasn’t had an at-bat since Sept. 17. Still, it says something about Devanney’s determination and dedication that he made the majors.
In 2019, he was the 15th-round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers from Elon University. The Brewers traded him to the Royals after the 2023 season, and Kansas City dealt him to the Pirates for Adam Frazier during this year’s All-Star break on July 16.
Devanney had some good seasons in the minor leagues. He hit 23 home runs between Triple-A and Double-A in the Brewers’ farm system in 2022, then had 19 home runs last season for the Royals’ Triple-A Omaha farm club in 2024, then went deep 20 times between Omaha and the Pirates’ Triple-A Indianapolis affiliate this season.
Yet the call to the big league never came until Devanney spent six days with the Royals in June. He never got into a game.
“That was kind of a dagger,” Devanney said. “I wondered when I got sent down if they would be my only chance in the big leagues, and I never got into a game. That would have been tough to deal with.”
Coincidentally, the Royals played a three-game series against the Pirates as Devanney watched from the dugout at Kauffman Stadium. Little did Devanney know that he would end up joining the team across the field and make his debut with them.
“You couldn’t have drawn that up, but it’s cool how it worked out,” Devanney said. “It’s been a great opportunity and a great experience.”
Devanney admits there were times when he was frustrated. Not being rewarded with a promotion despite hitting for power in the minor leagues was hard to take.
Bad timing sometimes played a role in Devanney being struck in he minor league. In the Royals’ organization, he was behind star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
Devanney, though, also believed patience would eventually pay off.
“I think the biggest thing that kept me going was just worrying about where you’re at in the moment,” Devanney said. “You understand that there is a luck factor, and like getting an opportunity, being in the right place at the right time. So, when you shift your mindset to taking care of your performance, where you’re at, and knowing that if you do that, eventually, an opportunity will come.
“That was the biggest thing I latched onto. And I mean, there were days when it was more frustrating than others, but I think that’s what you have to do to continue to perform because a lot of guys will get sucked into worrying about everything and try to play (general manager) a little bit. I tried to avoid that.”
Devanney’s patience and attitude finally paid off, and it’s great to see that happen.
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