Ground Breaking: Astros Coach Make Final Roster Decision On No. 1 Prospect Cam Smith

Cam Smith, the top prospect, is the final member of the Astros’ roster.

The decision-makers had an obvious option after Houston Astros top prospect Cam Smith turned heads during Spring Training. Smith (MLB Pipeline’s No. 58 overall prospect) has been added to the team’s Opening Day roster, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. When the Astros visit the New York Mets on Thursday afternoon to kick off the season from Daikin Park, Smith is anticipated to start in right field. Smith, who was selected by the Chicago Cubs with the 14th overall pick in the MLB Draft last July, only appeared in 32 minor league games prior to being called up. Jim Callis, a senior writer for MLB.com, claims that Smith’s ascent from the Draft to the team’s Opening Day roster is the third-fastest since the draft began in 1965.

This spring, the 22-year-old was completely in control. Smith produced a slash line of.342/.419/.711 in 15 Grapefruit League games, including four home runs and a team-high 11 RBI in 38 at-bats. Even one of his colleagues, Mauricio Dubón, believes Smith can one day join an elite group because of his exceptional performance at the plate. “When he figures it out,” Dubón stated to The Athletic, “when he has an idea of what they’re going to do to him in the big leagues,

I think he’s going to be the next 60-homer guy.” Smith, a natural third baseman, showed well this spring while getting opportunities in right field. The 22-year-old has a 1.000 fielding percentage after taking advantage of all five of his opportunities in 39 innings in the corner outfield position. Last summer, he hit.313 with seven home runs and 24 RBI across three levels of the Cubs organization.

This featured an OPS of 1.005 and a slugging percentage of.609. Smith has never looked back since being sold to the Astros in December as part of the Kyle Tucker trade. “I didn’t even know it was possible to get traded that quick,” Smith stated earlier this month in an MLB Network interview. It’s evident that Smith feels at ease in Houston after the initial shock of the move.