Cam Smith Breaks Camp With the Astros

[Jaypers]

After only 32 games in the minors under the Cubs, he's made the Astros' opening day roster.

Break 'em out if you got 'em. :coffee:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/cam-smith-to-make-astros-roster.html

[imbluestreak23]

Really wish he had started in AA

But insane accomplishment

[rms13]

Really wish he had started in AA

But insane accomplishment

He's 22 and played at a high level college where he probably had as good or better competition then in low minors. Same situation as Kristian Campbell. I'm surprised Caglianone didn't break camp with the Royals for the same reason. I think guys like this are better off in MLB asap. Just stick them in the 9 hole with no pressure and let them figure it out.

[imbluestreak23]

He's 22 and played at a high level college where he probably had as good or better competition then in low minors. Same situation as Kristian Campbell. I'm surprised Caglianone didn't break camp with the Royals for the same reason. I think guys like this are better off in MLB asap. Just stick them in the 9 hole with no pressure and let them figure it out.

Always more of a fan of top prospects/hitters feasting off minor league pitching to build hype.

Many a player called up too early limiting hype for MLB debut.

This news might vanish like a fart in the wind

[kipgen]

I predict he'll flame out in the majors and head back down to AA or AAA but it's nice to see him start so early either way

[rms13]

Always more of a fan of top prospects/hitters feasting off minor league pitching to build hype.

Many a player called up too early limiting hype for MLB debut.

This news might vanish like a fart in the wind

If we are talking strictly hobby wise then you may be right. But for baseball I don't like holding back a 22 year old who looks ready enough especially ones that played a few years of high level college ball and Cape Cod league.

[rms13]

I predict he'll flame out in the majors and head back down to AA or AAA but it's nice to see him start so early either way

Hopefully not. I'm not invested in him and I'm not a Astros fan so I don't really care. But watching how prospects have been handled for good and bad I think shuttling them back and forth is the way to ruin or severely set back a good prospect. Don't call them up until you think they are ready and once you call them up, let them play everyday and play through struggles. The way the O's handled Holiday last year is the prime example of what not to do. He was also a lot younger and probably should never have been promoted to MLB at that point.

[kipgen]

Hopefully not. I'm not invested in him and I'm not a Astros fan so I don't really care. But watching how prospects have been handled for good and bad I think shuttling them back and forth is the way to ruin or severely set back a good prospect. Don't call them up until you think they are ready and once you call them up, let them play everyday and play through struggles. The way the O's handled Holiday last year is the prime example of what not to do. He was also a lot younger and probably should never have been promoted to MLB at that point.

Maybe so, Juan Soto for example barely played at AA, was promoted to the majors and now he's Juan Soto. So it can definitely work out, it's just not how it is for most guys. The Astros do have a good track record with picking prospects off other teams though so maybe he does well.

[awz50]

I think this is a classic rush job, but we will see, and it will be exciting to see how he turns out

[atk825]

I think this is a classic rush job, but we will see, and it will be exciting to see how he turns out

Not sure you have enough info to say for sure. Same was said about Zach Neto and dude has been a really good major leaguer. Don't think the Astros would do this without doing the due diliegence.

[ravensgc_5]

Not sure how I feel about him coming up so early but the video of the Astros breaking the news to him was great. Definitely makes you pull for him.

[vinson24]

Not sure how I feel about him coming up so early but the video of the Astros breaking the news to him was great. Definitely makes you pull for him.

Would rather an organization do this then hold a player back for a few weeks to manipulate service time

[rms13]

Would rather an organization do this then hold a player back for a few weeks to manipulate service time
They added the Prospect Promotion Incentive in 2022 so teams can get an extra draft pick between the first and second round if a ranked prospect wins ROY or finishes top 3 in MVP\Cy Young and gets 172 days of service time. Which pretty much means they have to be on the opening day roster to be eligible. That was introduced to incentivize teams to bring up top prospects earlier and not try to manipulate service time. Besides, all these top guys that pan out usually get an extension well before they are arbitration eligible so that service time gamesmanship is stupid.

[awz50]

Not sure you have enough info to say for sure. Same was said about Zach Neto and dude has been a really good major leaguer. Don't think the Astros would do this without doing the due diliegence.

Well of course I do not have the "insider info" as I am not part of the Astros front office or scouting department, but I will say he has played very little professional games and has had very little at bats professionally. Sometimes having some time in the minors too feast off minor league pitching can be good, that is all I am saying.

[premium1981]

I hope he succeeds, although he is absolutely in a tough spot. They need to hit him last in the lineup and hope the rest of the guys hit so there is no pressure. If he does really well I will have to talk my wife into taking a plane ride down to Houston to watch a game.

Ulterior motive: Houston has the best steakhouse in the world. Taste of Texas. Holy cow I salivate thinking about it. Been there twice and need a reason to go back. :-)

[awz50]

The Astros will have an interesting outfield with Altuve, who has never played LF in a professional game besides spring training, and Cam Smith, the rookie who has played very few professional games.

[corndog]

I am excited that I get to watch every game!
With the new additions this is going to be a fun season for Astros fans.

I believe that the changes made are good ones.

:flex:

[hermanotarjeta]

No matter how he does, many of his cards have doubled in price!

[21Pittsburgh58]

Baseball's hard, so congratulations to the kid!

[wrswinney]

I hope he succeeds, although he is absolutely in a tough spot. They need to hit him last in the lineup and hope the rest of the guys hit so there is no pressure. If he does really well I will have to talk my wife into taking a plane ride down to Houston to watch a game.

Ulterior motive: Houston has the best steakhouse in the world. Taste of Texas. Holy cow I salivate thinking about it. Been there twice and need a reason to go back. :-)

That is such a great steakhouse...I haven't been in a while and need to go back!

[txrngr34]

That is such a great steakhouse...I haven't been in a while and need to go back!I haven't been to some other high-end steakhouses but Taste of Texas is easily the best I've tried.

As for Smith, to me, he looks like a big leaguer in the box. That doesn't mean instant success, but I do believe he's primed for long-term success.

[asujbl]

Not sure how I feel about him coming up so early but the video of the Astros breaking the news to him was great. Definitely makes you pull for him.

The video had good intentions

It was super weird and awkward

But to each their own

[kipgen]

The video had good intentions

It was super weird and awkward

But to each their own

I agree, everyone looked confused and then Cam starts crying, it looked more like he was receiving news that someone had died or something than anything because the room was dead silent

[mollertheballer]

I agree, everyone looked confused and then Cam starts crying, it looked more like he was receiving news that someone had died or something than anything because the room was dead silent


Yea I expected everyone to go bananas like he just won something.


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[mollertheballer]

I haven't been to some other high-end steakhouses but Taste of Texas is easily the best I've tried.

As for Smith, to me, he looks like a big leaguer in the box. That doesn't mean instant success, but I do believe he's primed for long-term success.


Taste of Texas is great! Especially when it’s all decked out at Christmas.


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[mollertheballer]

The Astros will have an interesting outfield with Altuve, who has never played LF in a professional game besides spring training, and Cam Smith, the rookie who has played very few professional games.


Definitely interesting, but better than rolling out an outfield that can field but not hit. Right time to experiment and try to keep the success going.


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[Noles939913]

No matter how he does, many of his cards have doubled in price!

The hobby is so weird. He could turn into a perennial All-Star, win a MVP, potentially make the HOF and his cards wouldn’t be worth what they are now lmao. FOMO is real.

[corndog]

1 pitch... first base hit. :flex:

https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/486487739_9304150429634409_3078944860501524792_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_p843x403_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=833d8c&_nc_ohc=mgzF3Ir1QOIQ7kNvgHrDULg&_nc_oc=AdnQmVcIjVK1PlAzfELXUyF_rTHPrDWD79ITbJDrxQNMubWiQwAeJ7Y_Uf7_2eUpn9DZz_adFQzzHMcHu-ain_uF&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&_nc_gid=G39YJ3j1HbeFUs5HwkK7JA&oh=00_AYFn0371oyDGIO9pBDVG12vEytA1PONU2rKhe9TvqiTC8Q&oe=67EB71EF

[awz50]

Awesome to see!

[corndog]

Cam is having a really nice rookie season!

[corndog]

Batting .291 with 10 hits in his last 5 games.

:flex:

[mrmojorisin71]

Stud. His at bats are fun to watch. His understanding of the strike zone at his age is amazing. Pitch identification is just plain stellar.

[mrmojorisin71]

Speaking of…..

[elontusk1119]

Who would've thought rookies Cam Smith, Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz would be tier above the other higher touted prospects, the likes of Kristian Campbell, Roman Anthony and Cags.

[mrmojorisin71]

Who would've thought rookies Cam Smith, Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz would be tier above the other higher touted prospects, the likes of Kristian Campbell, Roman Anthony and Cags.

The Astros regularly get told their farm system sucks (yes, I know cam comes from the Cubs), but they keep putting fools out there and winning. Not once has a teams farm ranking yielded a championship. It’s a freaking craps shoot for the most part when it comes to humans doing human things such as baseball.

[Oriole Way]

Who would've thought rookies Cam Smith, Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz would be tier above the other higher touted prospects, the likes of Kristian Campbell, Roman Anthony and Cags.

Cam and Kurtz both got off to very slow starts. Anthony is actually heating up earlier than either Smith or Kurtz did.

[Jimbanto]

Not saying they are the same player but Jackson Merrill got the job out of camp in a new position, started to get the hang of things in June and then post All star game led his team into the playoffs and batted middle of the order.


Lot of similarities.

Also dont look now..... Smith is the slight favorite to win ROY