ELON, N.C. – The last time Cam Devanney and Ty Adcock were on Elon’s campus together was 2019.
That year was a memorable one for both of them. Not only were they key pieces to winning the CAA regular season championship, but they were two of four members of the Elon University baseball team to be drafted in the 2019 MLB Draft. Adcock was drafted in the eighth round by the Seattle Mariners and Devanney was drafted in the 15th round by the Milwaukee Brewers.
During their offseason, the two came back to campus in October to visit the coaching staff, chat with current players and even get a few swings in at batting practice.
Photo: Helen Marie Jackson/Rising Phoenix
“It’s super nostalgic,” Devanney said. “Just driving through campus is really cool. I loved my time here, and coming back reminds me of some of those memories.”
Devanney and Adcock played for the Phoenix from 2016-19. Getting to take the field together with the current team, even just in a practice setting, made all the memories of their collegiate playing days flood back.
“The time here definitely reminds you of how much fun it was being around all the players and the camaraderie between everyone. It’s especially nice to get to see the coaches and mingle and not have that stress on your shoulders of being under the microscope all the time,” Adcock laughed.
The two were also able to connect with the current Phoenix squad and enjoyed seeing the consistent, collective effort from each player.
“This is so structured and team oriented that it honestly just makes me happy seeing guys really pulling for one another and having such a tight knit group, which is what you get when you play at a school like this,” Devanney said.
As he welcomed his former players back to Latham Park, head coach Mike Kennedy said getting to see them is always special.
“We had some really good times, we won a lot of games with those guys,” Kennedy said. “I think the neat thing for me is I’m able to witness their relationship together and with their teammates, and how that’s carried on. They have created some wonderful friendships through Elon baseball.”
Devanney and Adcock were both standouts during their time playing for Elon. Devanney was named to the All-CAA second team following the 2018 and 2019 seasons. In 2019, he started all 57 games for the maroon and gold, garnering a 20-game hitting streak and 30-game on-base streak with a .335 batting average.
“That was the most fun I’ve ever had as a baseball player, and I would tell that to these guys too,” Devanney said. “You’re never going to have as much fun as you did in college, particularly if you’re fortunate enough to have a really good team, which we did that ’19 year. It really was a very special group. Just to have us four, along with some of the younger guys that went on to get drafted or even just have great college careers, to have that happen in succession with the three or four classes that were there at the time, that was special.”
Just like his teammate, Adcock found his stride in the 2019 season. As a two-way player, he also started all 57 games, batting .251 and leading the team with 12 home runs. The Phoenix closer pitched to a 2.32 ERA over 31.0 innings pitched, which ranks ninth in program history. He also picked up nine saves along the way, which ranks ninth in program history for single season saves.
Adcock echoed Devanney’s sentiments and said the time spent with his teammates was unmatched, particularly during that season.
“I loved everything about it,” Adcock said. “Especially with Cam sitting here, we were hitting 3-4 in the lineup and having some of the most fun I’ve ever had. That was one of the most fun years I’ve ever had playing baseball.”
After his collegiate playing days were over, Adcock reported to the AZL Mariners to begin his professional career. However, he faced setbacks early on, battling shoulder injuries and getting placed on the 60-day injured list.
As with all minor leaguers, Adcock was unable to play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Back for the 2021 season with the Modesto Nuts, he was sidelined once again with elbow injuries and ultimately underwent Tommy John surgery. Still, he did not let these setbacks deter him from his drive to play professional baseball.
“I knew how important it was that I had to perform, so I went out my first year in 2022 and I finished OK, but the following season in 2023, I really made a statement for myself,” Adcock said. “I was just trying to compete to the best of my ability, and luckily success came my way. I attribute that to my dedication and hard work every single day, just wanting to be the best, not only in baseball, but to see how good I can be as a person and a player.”
With the 2023 Everett AquaSox and Arkansas Travelers, the respective High-A and Double-A affiliates of the Mariners, Adcock pitched a 1.72 ERA in 20.2 innings, picking up 22 strikeouts. On June 12, 2023, he was called up to the major leagues.
“There’s nothing in this world that will ever compare to that specific day or that specific call that I got that day on the bus,” Adcock said.
“I think what truly made it more special is not to say that it was a surprise, but it happened so fast,” Kennedy said of Adcock’s rise to the MLB. “He threw very few minor league innings before he got that opportunity. He threw really well and took advantage of it.”
That very same day, Adcock’s dream of pitching at the major league level was realized. He threw 2.0 scoreless innings and did not allow a single base runner for the Seattle Mariners in an 8-1 victory over the Miami Marlins.
“I was so happy for his family,” Kennedy said. “Ty is a super kid. His family is super and they’re a close family. I got to witness that while he was here, and how much they cared for each other and how much they shared in his success and the enjoyment of that. That was really, really cool to see his mom and dad on TV watching him pitch for the first time in the big leagues.”
In 2024, Adcock spent time in the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets organizations before being called up by the Mets on June 26, 2024 and pitching in three games. He is currently on the Syracuse Mets’ roster, which is the team’s Triple-A affiliate.
As he looks to make his return to the majors, Adcock said his mindset remains the same no matter the level he’s at.
“When you get called up that’s not the end goal,” Adcock said. “We’re trying to get better after that as well, and see how much better we can become as a player.”
For Devanney’s minor league journey, he has moved up in the Brewers organization, beginning with stints playing for the AZL Brewers Blue and Rocky Mountain Vibes in 2019. In 61 games, he picked up 17 stolen bases and a .286 batting average. Post-pandemic, he was assigned to the Biloxi Shuckers, the Brewers Double-A affiliate, and spent 2021-22 there.
Devanney had an outstanding 2022 season with the Shuckers, batting .259 and launching 20 home runs, before getting promoted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds at the end of the season. His Double-A success certainly translated at the Triple-A level, with a .271 batting average and a .362 on base percentage in 2023.
“In ’22 I kind of came in knowing that if I didn’t make huge strides, my career was probably over,” Devanney said. “Putting together a really solid season in ’22 with Biloxi and then getting to finish it in Nashville was really cool and probably the reason I’m still here today playing. Getting to play in Nashville for an extended time was really cool. That’s just an awesome place.”
In December 2023, Devanney was traded to the Kansas City Royals. He earned a non-roster invite to play in Spring Training and spent his year with the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers. His power has continued to be on full display, picking up 19 home runs and 77 RBI, which ranked second and first on the team, respectively.
Devanney said one of the most exciting achievements of his career was being named to team USA’s roster for the Premier12™ tournament by USA Baseball.
“I didn’t expect to get selected for this,” Devanney said. “It kind of came out of the blue a couple months ago, and anytime you get to put on a Team USA uniform, I think it’s just super special. I’m incredibly excited. I’m looking forward to really caring about winning, just trying to advance as far as we can.”
He will compete in the first group stage of the tournament in Tepic and Guadalajara, Mexico from Nov. 9-14. If Team USA advances, Devanney will move onto the super round and the medal round, hosted in Tokyo, Japan later on this month.
“Things like this are rewards within that challenge of trying to make it to the big leagues, and it’s well deserved,” Kennedy said. “He’s played really, really well the last two years, and for people to take notice and put him in a USA jersey that represents the country, I did it in ’09 and there’s nothing better. It was awesome. I’m sure he’ll have that same feeling.”
Although they are both fully focused on their professional baseball careers, Adcock and Devanney have not forgotten about where their love of the game was furthered – at Elon.
Being back at Latham Park provided them the opportunity to meet the 2024 Phoenix, which Kennedy said was extremely impactful for his players.
“More than anything, it’s neat for our current guys to see guys who have been successful, to be able to be on the same field as those guys when they come back, maybe pick their brain a little bit and ask a few questions,” Kennedy said. “A lot of times when we look at pro guys and big league guys and we’re just in awe of them at the end of the day, they’re just like us. “
Throughout practice, Adcock was stationed in the bullpen, going over grips and giving advice to any pitcher who asked for it.
“Anything I can pour back into the players behind us is invaluable,” Adcock said. “Coming through as a college player, you look up to the guys that came before you and were successful. I personally love to give back to the players, just because they’re looking for any little tidbit they can take in of information that will help them try to hopefully get to where we’re at. I know we’re super fortunate, and as a professional baseball player, you should always try to give back as much as you can.”
Photo: Helen Marie Jackson/Rising Phoenix
Devanney dazzled on the diamond during batting practice, making play after play look effortless. He also took live at-bats during scrimmages and was there for both infielders and hitters looking to improve their games.
“Guys have definitely been picking my brain a little bit and I try to help as best I can,” Devanney said. “It’s cool because I put myself back in their shoes when I was there four or five years ago. I’ve learned so much just in that short window.”
Looking back on their collegiate careers, both Adcock and Devanney cherished their experiences at Elon. As they continue to navigate professional baseball, the two still look back at making the most of every day here, and hope the current team will do the same.
“Don’t take your time here for granted,” Adcock said. “You might get wrapped up in trying to perform and meet these expectations of the coaches, or maybe you have your own personal expectations of yourself but while you’re trying to grow and better yourself, enjoy every single day you’re here.”
‘Rising Phoenix’ is a student-led initiative to cover Elon Athletics. Through innovative content creation and storytelling, Elon University students will have the opportunity to highlight the moments, people and events that make an impact, leveraging the athletic department’s various web and social media platforms for distribution. Follow Rising Phoenix on X (@EURisingPhoenix) and Instagram (@elonrisingphoenix). Interested in joining this initiative as a content creator (video, graphics, writing, storytelling, or more)? Contact Chase Strawser at cstrawser@elon.edu.
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