Cam Smith was an interesting prospect for the Houston Astros when they acquired him in the deal that sent Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs. The Astros knew he could be a piece of their lineup in the future, but they had no idea that he would be the everyday right-fielder who would replace Tucker in 2025.
Smith has been getting his share of on-the-job training, as he was playing college baseball just a year ago. His walk-off hit against one of the best relievers in baseball, Jhoan Duran, will only further develop his confidence. While Smith is batting just .250, he has been playing elite right field and is an everyday player for the first-place Astros.
Joe Espada showed plenty of belief in his rookie by naming him to the opening day roster. Now, Smith is paying him back by giving him consistent production on a day-to-day basis. When Espada speaks about Smith, it's evident that he is quickly becoming a player the Astros are excited about.
"He's growing in front of our eyes. We, as the Astros, and our community need to be excited about our right fielder," Espada said post-game, via Brian McTaggart.
While the Astros attempt to bridge the gap between their glory years and the new era, one thing is clear: The glory years might roll into the new era if they continue to play this quality of baseball with youth all around the diamond.