Baseball can be a very long season. We start hearing about pitchers and catchers reporting to Arizona and Florida in the first part of February. Those who have had extremely successful seasons the last several years haven’t taken off their cleats until the first few days of November.
While the season can feel slow moving at times, one guy who has been on the fast track is Cam Smith of the Houston Astros. Smith is playing in his second full season in the Major Leagues and third as a professional and realizes he is in a terrific spot. He has 16 homers this season, showing the potential power that he can bring to a lineup that is 63-62 and in first plave in the American League West.
“I get to live my dream out every single day, it’s a blessing” he told MLBbro about reaching the big leagues in a short amount of time.
Smith was the first round draft choice of the Chicago Cubs (14th overall) in the 2024 draft. He rapidly moved up the organizational ladder carrying a .313 batting average across three minor league levels.
“It was pretty cool times being with the Cubs organization. All great people. I’ll never forget that, how they treated people” the 23 year old reflected. “Coming here, it was a perfect situation. I was home for spring training and got the opportunity to play in the big leagues right away” the Florida native shared.
Cam Smith Traded To Houston Astros In 2024
Smith was traded on December 13 2024 with two other players from the Cubs to the Astros.
Third base was always the natural position for Smith. It wasn’t a scenario where he was the third baseman most of the time, he always played third base. Smith played over 100 games for the Florida State Seminoles in college and he manned the hot corner in all of them. He had a very brief minor league career and all of his defensive starts were at third base.
On Opening Day of the 2025 season Smith was the starting Right fielder for the Astros and it was quite different for him.
“I had to get adjusted to it from being so far away, I’m used to the infield. Nowadays its so fun out there, every single ball in the air I want to go get” Smith added.
It was a productive season as he singled in his first Major League at bat and closed out his rookie campaign as a Gold Glove finalist in Rightfield.
Smith is just beginning his Major League career and is aware that there are many eyes on him.
He spoke about understanding the responsbility as it pertains to young black ball players that are watching him to see how he progresses both on and off the field.
“I have to remind myself that I’m not doing this just for me. I have to carry myself a certain way” “I have to respect the game, play the game a certain way because there is a young black generation watching” he concluded with MLBbro.
It’s no coincidence that the Astros are starting to open up the division lead in the American League West as Smith is starting to raise his offensive numbers.
