OLATHE, Kan. — Isaiah Campbell, an Olathe South High School alumnus, made his MLB debut for the Seattle Mariners on July 7 in a win against the Houston Astros, where he pitched a perfect inning, including his first major league strikeout.

The Mariners organization drafted Campbell in 2019 through the MLB Competitive Balance Draft. Before that, he pitched for three years for the University of Arkansas, where he led the team to the College World Series in 2018 and 2019.

First punchout in the Show for @isaiah_campbell! #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/zcACo3Oo50

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 8, 2023

Before his baseball career took off, he played in gold and blue as an Olathe South Falcon under coach Josh Perkins. Perkins, who will be starting his sixteenth year as the Falcon’s head coach, was so proud to see his pitcher playing under the big-league lights.

“Watching Isaiah play in the big leagues was me getting to watch a man live his childhood dream,” Perkins said. “I am thankful to Isaiah and his family for being a part of his journey. It could not happen to a better person. I am so happy for Isaiah.”

This incredible accomplishment resulted from years of hard work, dedication and dreaming. Isaiah knew at an early age that he wanted to play Major League Baseball and worked tirelessly to make that dream come true. His parents, Deanna and Parry Campbell, who now live in Shawnee, did all they could to help support his dreams. When Isaiah was 11, he went with his family to the College World Series after one of his own tournament games.

“He told his mom and me that he was going to play there one day,” Parry shared. “I chuckled inside because that dream is hard to achieve. But then he pitched at the College World Series three times.”

Isaiah had an even bigger dream of pitching for a Major League Baseball team, and when he called to tell his parents that he would be pitching for the Mariners on July 7, his dad screamed, and his mom cried.

“Isaiah was very emotional,” Deanna shared. “His teammates were hugging him during the conversation.” “I am still pinching myself to see if it’s real or if I am having a dream,” Parry added. “When Isaiah called to inform us that he was being called up to the ‘SHOW,’ I wanted to tell the world, but it wasn’t public knowledge for the next 48 hours.”

While they waited for the announcement to become public, the Campbells made plans to travel to Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX, to watch their son make his MLB debut with 34,000 other baseball fans. As Deanna traveled to Houston to watch her son play, she thought about all that had happened to get him to this point.

“I reminisced about the 20-year journey—club, high school ball and his career at the University of Arkansas. I reflected on the injuries, the lowest times in his career and how he overcame them. I remembered the coaches, good and bad, who impacted him, and his friends and family who loved on him through every moment. I’m so proud of Zay, his sacrifices and his perseverance.”

Deanna and Parry’s hearts swelled with love and pride as they watched Isaiah and his teammates walk out on the field. When he looked up and saw his parents, Isaiah tipped his cap. Parry said that, at that moment, “I may have shed a little tear. You know…it’s allergy season somewhere.”

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