‘Off Campus’ Star Gets Mixed Reaction From White Sox Fans as He Throws Out First Pitch

‘Chicago White Sox fans gearing up for a postseason game got a dose of whiplash when a heavily hyped “big name” ceremonial first pitch turned out to be rising actor Belmont Cameli from Prime Video’s hockey romance series Off Campus.

The White Sox headed into Game 3 of the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians holding a 2-0 series lead. It marked the franchise’s first home playoff game since 2021 as well as their first opportunity to clinch a postseason series in front of home fans since 1906..

Anticipation reached a fever pitch outside Rate Field when an MLB beat writer posted online to tease that a celebrity or local legend would be stepping onto the mound. Without giving any hints, the teaser sparked speculation among fans and users on social media, with many tossing around heavyweight names like former President Barack Obama, Chicago sports royalty Michael Jordan and Derrick Rose, or even Pope Leo XIV, who is known to be a big fan of the team.

However, when the moment arrived, 28-year-old Cameli walked out—whose previous credits also include the Saved by the Bell reboot and the Netflix film Along for the Ride on top of portraying Garrett Graham in Off Campus—had still never heard of the actor before.

 

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Cameli does have local ties as a native of nearby Naperville, Illinois, but the reveal left fans confused after building up expectations for a presidential or sports icon. The official MLB account shared a photo of Cameli across their official social platforms including Instagram, with some comments expressing disappointment from fans who were let down that it didn’t end up being Obama or the Pope.

One user commented, “This was the biggest let down for a guest to throw out the first pitch.” One wrote “Bruh we were thinking the pope Lmao,” while another simply wrote, “Not Obama.” One said: “I don’t know who this is, but I know it’s his fault the Sox lost.”

But some fans seemed to be happy with the decision with one user writing, “Belmont!!! lol I love how no guys know who this is! And all the girls are like YESSS Garrett!!!!!” Another fan wrote “the crossover we didn’t know we needed,” while another user wrote, “He’s so perfect.”

However, the crowd quickly shook off the letdown as the game got underway, though the team’s luck on the field matched the pre-game disappointment: Chicago dropped Game 3 in a 9-3 blowout, setting up a decisive fourth game.