BOSTON — It was a meaningful weekend for Cam Booser, even if his White Sox team dropped three of four games to the Red Sox, including a 4-2 defeat Monday morning into the afternoon at Fenway Park, leaving Chicago at a 5-17 mark for the season.

The lefty reliever continued his strong start to 2025, tossing shutout frames on both Saturday and Sunday, trimming his ERA to 2.00 in his first year with the White Sox. Booser has now strung together seven straight scoreless appearances, with his most recent four coming against his former club.

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Before Saturday’s contest, Booser received the prestigious 2024 Tony Conigliaro Award from the Red Sox, an honor given annually to a Major Leaguer who embodies the resilience, perseverance, and spirit that defined Tony C.

Receiving the award clearly resonated deeply with Booser, who cherished every aspect of his time in Boston.

“Being associated with someone like Tony Conigliaro — it’s hard to even describe the feeling,” Booser said. “It’s an incredible honor, and I’m truly grateful to the Red Sox for selecting me.”

He added, “It’s definitely bittersweet. I’m embracing the moment, but there’s a lot of nostalgia. It’s special to be back, even though I’m wearing a different jersey now and chasing new goals.”

A winding journey to the big leagues

Before Booser could even think about competing at this level, he had to find a way to get here. His remarkable road to the Majors was chronicled last season when he broke through with the Red Sox, posting a 3.38 ERA across 43 games.

Booser’s path included overcoming Tommy John surgery, labrum surgery, a broken back from a bike crash, and a 50-game suspension for marijuana. He briefly retired from baseball in 2017 before fighting his way back through the independent leagues, notably suiting up for the Chicago Dogs in 2021.

When Boston signed him in 2023, his journey hit another rough patch: a rocky month in Triple-A Worcester, where he posted a brutal 9.58 ERA. Yet the Red Sox stood by him — something Booser has never forgotten.

Whenever he's not facing the Red Sox lineup these days, he's quietly pulling for them.

“I’ll always have nothing but respect for that organization,” Booser said. “They believed in a 30-year-old guy out of indy ball when nobody else did. And even when I struggled badly early on, they gave me the tools and the support to figure it out. I owe them so much for helping me live out this dream at 31 years old. No hard feelings — just a lot of gratitude.”

Cam Booser strikes out Andrew McCutchen in MLB debut Apr 20, 2024 · 0:06

A different kind of preparation off the field

Life in independent ball also shaped Booser’s off-field habits. These days, he prepares his own meals, even when traveling. What’s in his travel cooler?

“Pretty much the same thing every day,” Booser laughed. “Rice, and a mix of ground beef and organ meats.”

Yes, organ meats.

“Kidney, heart, liver — that sort of thing,” he said. “I read about the health benefits and decided to give it a shot. I’ve stuck with it for a few years now. You can find them in a lot of bigger cities. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to everyone — it’s just something that works for me.”

Clearly, the approach is paying off. Booser has carved out a role at the back end of Chicago’s bullpen, either closing games or pitching in high-leverage spots. And it all traces back to the opportunity the Red Sox gave him — making his return to Fenway a little more emotional.

His journey even earned national attention, featured in the Netflix series The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox, though Booser hasn’t watched his episode yet.

“I’m saving it for the offseason,” Booser said. “I know it’s going to hit me hard emotionally. And no matter where my career takes me, a piece of my heart will always be with those guys in Boston.”

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