Belmont Cameli threw out the ceremonial first pitch Wednesday before the Guardians-White Sox playoff game, ending a pregames mystery that had White Sox fans guessing someone much bigger would walk to the Rate Field mound.
Cameli, 28, is a Naperville native who has appeared in the new Saved by the Bell, Along for the Ride and Off Campus. He finished shooting the second season of Off Campus this summer, and his appearance made him the actual choice after the White Sox had sounded as if a major-name guest was on the way.
That setup mattered because the game was already carrying playoff weight, which turned a ceremonial moment into part of the night’s buildup. Fans looking for a marquee reveal instead got Cameli, a local actor whose name was not among the loudest ones floating around before the first pitch.
What remains unresolved is why the White Sox chose to hint at a bigger surprise when Cameli was the selection all along. The answer may not change the pitch itself, but it explains why a simple pregame honor briefly became the center of attention.
