It was reported yesterday from MMO and MMN’s own Michael Mayer that 21-year-old pitcher Cameron Planck had announced his retirement.

The New York Mets drafted right-handed pitcher Cameron Planck in the 11th round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft from Rowan County High School in Morehead, Kentucky. Planck later signed with the Mets on July 13, 2016 and received a $1,000,001 million signing bonus.

After the signing, in an exclusive interview with MMN on January, 14, 2017, Planck explained the organization made the decision to shut him down for the season due to a heavy workload during Senior year of high school. He was instead provided with a specific throwing program and routine to follow after joining the organization to work towards building arm strength, fitness and adjusting to pro ball through his participation in the instructional league.

In an MMN follow-up interview in April 2017, Planck was prepping to make his debut while pitching in extended spring training. He spoke about inching closer to his debut and fulfilling a dream he has had for as long as he can remember.

However, disaster struck again, and Planck would later go on to make the decision to shut down, this time for shoulder surgery, ending another season before it even started and prolonging the wait to start his dream. Planck once again found himself back into the down time, knowing only training facilities, rehab trainers and the backfields, while learning and growing throughout it all.

A little more than a year later, June 2018, Planck was once again looking to make those final steps to making his so long awaited pro debut.  With the love and support of his family, friends and fellow rehabbing teammates and coaches, Planck was back at the Port St. Lucie training facility going through the grind and fighting for his chance at his lifelong goal. Then, as it had before during this journey, in only his second outing of the season pitching in a rehab assignment with the Gulf Coast League Mets, Planck was removed from the game with reports he simply wasn’t able to throw another pitch.

After fearing the worst, it was later determined during this current off-season Planck and his issues could be explained medically with normal “wear and tear” following his surgery rather than feared new issues or torn ligaments. In March 2019 the soon to be 21-year-old Planck was fully cleared and feeling better than ever. He was once again training and prepping for a new season ahead, knowing his past struggles but looking forward.

Planck had been in Port St. Lucie most of the off-season training and prepping, currently in a workout regime that of a starting pitcher, showing the team’s faith in Planck going forward and into the season to start logging innings as a starting pitcher. His talent and projections remained solid, being a young man with a strong build and frame. At 21, he was at an age when some prospects are looking to get drafted out of college.

After all the hard work Planck finally made his season debut on 07/13/19 pitching a perfect inning for the Kingsport Mets.  However, just two weeks later, Cameron would post on social media his decision to retire. It was a long road for a young, respectful, humble young man from a strong family background who was raised by hometown Kentucky roots.

The player the Mets scouted and knew was a young teenager with a mid-90s fastball who excelled as an elite athlete, and had the self confidence to succeed and dominate. The person this reported has known since 2016  is kind, humble, respectful, giving and supportive of others.

The Cameron Planck that I know once traveled 90 miles from Port St. Lucie to Plantation Florida on a scheduled day off from training just to meet with and counsel a foster child I informed him about who was struggling at home.

Over the years Planck struggled with the daily grind of being not on a field, but mostly in a training room, day after day, month after month, year after year focusing on rehabbing rather than being on a mound that he loved so much. All while spending most of it in a city far from home.

He had all the makings of a star, not just from talent but from personality.  Think of him as today’s version of Pete Alonso, an open and charismatic, friendly and honest individual who care for others and wants to be the best he can be.

Cameron Planck will succeed at anything he ventures into in life. He will do it with the love and support of his fiance, his family, and his hometown.

Myself, along with everyone at Metsminors, wish Cameron nothing but the the best in life.  He deserves every blessing that comes his way.