The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Astros Top Prospect Cam Smith Talks Future At Third Base, Outfield Work

Episode Date: February 19, 2025

Astros top prospect Cam Smith joined "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" for the second day of full-squad workouts at spring training in West Palm Beach, Florida. Houston acquired Smith along with third baseman Isaac Paredes and pitcher Hayden Wesneski in a trade that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs. The 2024 first-round pick has recorded seven homers and 24 RBI in his 32 games in the minor leagues. Smith talked about getting drafted from Florida State, working at third base and in right field, taking pride in his defensive abilities and more.

Astro Top Phenom, future third base slash left field, slash wherever you want to play. Cam Smith is with us on the program. Lake Worth, Florida, is that correct? Yes, sir. 25 minutes from here? 25 minutes. Mom and dad cook a good meal for you?

That's right. Every night. Every night. And I'm helping her out too, so I'm learning. Okay, so here's a chef. Here's the bit. He gets to keep all his travel money for the spring training, put in the piggy bank. I got out him immediately.

He's been on one minute. I respect that game. Stitching on you one thing. It's just the truth. Cynch will be like, Matt, don't tell anybody this. It's true. No, it's true. I like it. Very nice.

All right. I've been asked all these guys, you get the phone call. Yeah. You're going to play for the Houston Astros. Yeah. What was your initial reaction? And then how long did it settle in before you're leaving the Cubs organization to come play for the Houston Astros?

Yeah, so at first I was definitely shook a little bit. Honestly, I didn't know it was possible that you could trade a player right after you draft them, but like I was talking to them, it's a business. And once I got that call from Carter Hawkins telling me the trade happened, Dana Brown called me and welcomed me. And after that, everybody else in the front office called me and welcomed me. So it felt good that I was welcome with open arms. For sure. You know, it felt, it felt warming. It's kind of crazy. You know, that first round of the draft, they try to make it like the NFL and

NBA draft. They take pictures of you. We're in the Cubs gear and all this. Can't, wait to see you and then months later you're wearing somebody else's gear right exactly yeah well i mean think about who you got traded for i mean you didn't get traded for chop liver right so that's great yeah uh and then immediately you're the number one prospect in the organization that's got i mean you worked your ass off for that so take us through your life because obviously you're built like a linebacker you and desenzo could be ends on the houston texans and has zero issue with that right yeah no no disenzo is huge man he's a he's a different animal have you guys arm wrestled yet No, I don't plan on doing it.

I think he got me. No, we're supposed to get you two arm wrestling. We'll do that after, but I don't want him to break my arm. They're not very strong. You know what of them are. All right. You'll shoot the organization. It'll be good.

That's true. Give you a cut. Cam, you got good money coming your way. I know where I can find you. Easy money. That's right. Okay, so tell us what Joe's told you so far, what Dana has, and what are your, frankly, expectations coming out of the camp this year.

Yeah, so talking to Dana. early on when I got here for the January camp, he mentioned right field to me and just taking reps there because he wants me to see how I move and how comfortable I am over there, because obviously there's some holes that need to be filled. Right. Talking to Joe, he likes me at third base. That's where I've been. He said that's where I'm comfortable, and he'd like to see me at third as well.

So I'm probably going to do a mix of both, you know, just to see what I can do at both positions. We won't tell them, but where are you most comfortable? Third base, for sure, 100%. I've always been a shortstop. My whole life got to college in 22 and became a third baseman. But I've always been an infielder, always. Who did you grow up watching, learning the sport from? Man, I watched a ton of players, but my favorite player growing up was Yassio Pueig.

Really? Interesting. Yeah, my all-time favorite. What made him the guy? He was just ahead of his game. He was electric. I loved the energy he brought. He was just swaggy, smooth. Like, I just loved watching him play.

man. So you're going to pimp some home runs like Yassil? Yeah, I actually practiced it when I was young to do what he does and try to swing like he does. Are you a bat flipper guy or a bat drop guy? I would say drop. Yeah, I would say drop. I like the slow drop. Yeah.

So you're here now. Obviously, you've had these conversations. Pressure for somebody like you, drafted in the first round. Now you're here. He mentioned top prospect in the system. What's that like for you to wanting to give it your all? to try your hardest, to work your hardest, but also maybe not be too hard on yourself and feel too much pressure either. Right. Yeah, I've had all these coaches here behind my back and just

telling me that, you know, you've got the stuff. It's just all it is now is just honing in on your craft and you'll get there with no issue. So it's just trusting that process. It sounds corny, but it's real, you know, to not rush anything. You know, don't be anxious in anything. but yeah just go about it day by day rep by rep and just trust that you'll get to where you want to get to think about this just get to the ball make a decent throw because the guy at first base is going to grab everything and he's almost that yesterday's like it doesn't have to hit the middle of my chest every single time now you don't want to take advantage of that but you know that you've got a great back step over there the best the best over there at first base uh and what advice is i mean are you one of those guys

say how do you handle this or you know you know one of those guys say how do you handle this just kind of letting things naturally come to you right now? I'm just kind of letting the thoughts come in my head. I'm purely watching instead of being vocal for now. You know, I'm pretty new. But yeah, I'm just being a sponge.

I'm listening to what everybody has to say. I'm going to give you a little advice about Houston and the sports fans. They're going to love you when they see you, whether it's on TV here or when you come to the big league team. But we have more folks that call us about minor league players than ever. So if you get off to a fast start, I don't know if you check Twitter in it very much,

But people are going to be asking you when you get it up here, when you get up here. So don't put any, don't let the social media streets put pressure on you. Because the team's close in Sugar Lane. Yeah, I was going to say, that's not a terrible drive. You're not going to Fresno, California. You're going to be not bad. It used to be Oklahoma City before that in Fresno, yeah. Yeah, you're a good.

You're a quick shuttle here. What about your defensive game do you want to work on? I mean, we've never seen you play. I've only seen the YouTube videos, and that's the good things out there. So what are some nuances of third base that present, not necessarily challenges, but thing you always want to work on? Always want to work on, lateral movement, and just moving my feet. Like, kind of, they say dancing.

Like, you know, dancing out there in the field being smooth. That's what it takes to stay at their base for a while. I don't really want to be a robot. I want to be flexible. Yeah. And be able to get, you know, some range, some good range. Is there such a thing as infield chemistry? Do you believe in that?

100%. Yeah, 100%. Because you know the ranges of your shortstop. The shortstop knows the ranges of the second basement. And same thing for the second baseman and the first basement. So it's just like knowing each other and knowing what balls you can get and what balls you should leave for the shortstop. Yeah, so the shortstop here, of course, Jeremy Payne, Gold Glover,

Alex Bregman, reigning Gold Glover, now, of course, with the Red Sox. So kind of not necessarily to go back to the pressure well, but the bar has been kind of set defensively here at the Astros organization. Yeah, 100%. They take pride in their defense, and that's what I love, because that's what I want to improve on the most. And they take pride in it. And, you know, I'm just, I'm being a sponge.

Like I said, I'm listening to whatever they say. And I'm all in. Let's go. All right. You're going to hit your first home run at Diken Park eventually. Where do you want to hit your first road home run? Right center. I mean, it's a state.

Is there a certain park? Oh, a certain park. Okay. I go over all the fences. I don't care. I don't care what fence are going on. Okay, okay. Yeah, Dodger Stadium.

Dodger Stadium. They don't like the Astros there. You know that right. I understand. You can get the right field of Yankee Stadium pretty easy. Yeah. No, yeah. It's a short porch over there.

So, Dodger's Daymes. Dodger Stadium. Yeah, it's just like all the lights are on you. All right. As a third basement in the minor league ballparks, you probably hear the fans a little bit. Before I wrap things up, give me some good material you've heard and some that you're like, you have to shake your head and go, what are you talking about? I don't know.

Honestly, I don't know if I can say it. Oh, okay. We have a special internet only show. Actually, tell us during the break. And we'll clean it up for the audience. That's funny. Yeah, because going to Omaha. Hall last year.

Those fans are in your year, man. The Tennessee fans, they're rough. That's right. Hey, Cam, it was great visiting with you. We wish you nothing but the very best. Very excited. And, man, I'm so excited. But, man, I'm so excited.

But have a great time. Hope it's a short trip down in Sugar Land. Yes, sir. It's going to be like 95 degrees outside. I can get the hell out of here. What am I talking about? You're used to this. You're at Paul Beach.

What are you talking about? It's he would hear all the time. Yeah, he's lived in it. All right. Cam Smith joining us here on the program. Thank you, I appreciate it. Short time out. It is 1213.

Matt Thomas Show and Ross continues here on Sports Talk 790.