‘I’m very blessed’: Emotional Cam Smith reacts to making Astros’ Opening Day roster

Cam Smith has been informed that he has made the Houston Astros’ Opening Day roster.

The announcement came Tuesday afternoon, with Chandler Rome of The Athletic being the first to report.

The 22-year-old will make his MLB debut on Opening Day Thursday when the Astros’ host the New York Mets. He will start at right field.

A native of the Palm Beach area of Florida, Smith played one season at Florida State University before being selected 14th overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 2024 MLB Draft. The third baseman spent the rest of the 2024 season splitting time between the Cubs’ Single-A, High-A and Double-A affiliate teams.

In December, Smith was a major chip in the Cubs’ blockbuster trade to acquire star outfielder Kyle Tucker from Houston. Along with Smith, the Astros also acquired fellow third baseman Isaac Paredes and right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski.

Since arriving in Houston, Smith’s stock has only risen, as he was one of the league’s emerging stars during Spring Training, hitting .342 and four home runs.

KPRC 2 Sports was there to see Smith’s raw reaction to hearing the news.

“I always thought it was possible,” a tearful Smith shared. “I think I had a great, great group of guys around me to help me out, to get here today. So, I always saw it as a possibility—for it to happen, and we’re here today talking about it, so I’m very blessed.”

Smith’s mother, Stephnie Hocza, was called into the Astros’ clubhouse to personally tell her son that he had been called up.

“I can’t put it into words,” Hocza told KPRC 2′s Ari Alexander. “It was so surreal, just to tell him all his dreams have come true is the absolute greatest gift to a mother.”

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