Fields Makes Difference On and Off the Field

Kamron Fields is a relief pitcher for this year’s RiverDogs team. He is from Garland, TX, which is just outside of Dallas.

Growing up in Garland, Fields described it as a typical city that is not out of the ordinary. He went to a big high school, a 6A school that was one of five in his city alone.

Like a lot of professional athletes, Fields played multiple sports growing up. Specifically, baseball and football, where he was the best athlete on the field. “I was the only kid that could throw,” he said.

Being a relief pitcher can be a lot of pressure, but Fields learn to deal with pressure at a young age. Being a quarterback in the state of Texas as a high schooler will certainly prepare you for anything.

When most people think of Texas, they think of football, and there is not a lot that comes close to high school football in the state of Texas.

“Nothing compares to it,” said Fields when talking about football in Texas. I have never felt the adrenaline rush that I felt on Friday nights.”

Fields had a goal in mind when he got to Lakeview Centennial High School. That goal was to get the Patriots to the state playoffs for the first time in 20 years. He did just that in his senior year, leading the Patriots to the second round of the state playoffs, and winning District MVP unanimously as the starting quarterback.

Not only was Fields getting it done on the football field, but on the baseball diamond as well. In his senior season at Lakeview Centennial, he received numerous accolades, including District 6A MVP, a Texas All-Region First Team selection, and a Rawlings-Perfect Game All-American Honorable Mention.

His efforts would earn him a scholarship to the University of Texas in Austin, where he would play for three seasons for the Longhorns. In 2018, his freshman year, he made 15 appearances and went 1-0 with a 1.82 ERA, while also making an appearance in the College World Series.

2020 was a difficult time for a lot of people, including Fields. As a junior at UT, there was a lot going on with the world and inside Fields mind. While it was a difficult time, he wanted to make a difference.

“The world just hit me all at once,” he said. “A lot went on with me personally, the pandemic hit, and police brutality was plaguing the country.”

During this time, Fields made two big decisions. The first decision was to transfer from Texas to Texas Southern, an HBCU school in Houston, TX. This move surprised a lot of people, but it was a decision that Fields says “was more than baseball.”

“They did not treat me any different when I got there,” said Fields. “Coach Robertson was a great coach that gave it to you straight.”

In his one year with the Tigers, Fields went 4-6 with a 5.03 ERA in 13 appearances. While the COVID year would allow him to have an extra year of eligibility, Fields would look to the Major League Baseball Draft that summer.

In the 20th round of the 2021 MLB Draft, Fields was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays. He was the only HBCU player to be selected in the draft, which is something that he holds dear to his heart.

While he feels a great deal of pride for being drafted, Fields knows that there is more that can be done and would like to see more HBCU players have the same accomplishment.

“I want this to become the norm,” said Fields. “I do not want this to happen every three or four years. I want this to be an annual thing.”

After signing with the Rays, Fields reported to the FCL Rays to begin his major league career. In three games with the club last year, he picked up a save. This year, coming into the homestand, he is 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA in 15 appearances.

The second big decision that Fields made during the 2020 pandemic was to start a nonprofit organization for the youth in his hometown. He calls it More to Life.

Fields said his biggest influence in life is the youth. Because of this, he had a youth center built in Garland and is doing everything he can to give back to his hometown. More to Life provides children with the resources as well as the direction to be successful.

During the holidays in 2020, Fields raised over one thousand dollars and provided toys to 15 families in the city of Garland.

That is where you will find him during the offseason, working out at Lakeview Centennial and giving back to his community. Fields hopes to continue to grow More to Life and eventually expand past the city of Garland.