Houston Astros rising star Cam Smith is on his way to becoming the next big thing for the ballclub as he continues to impress the baseball fraternity with his speed, hitting prowess, and game-reading abilities. At just 22 years old, he has already become a mainstay in the outfield for the Astros this season.
It isn’t easy to comprehend that Smith played just 32 games in the minor leagues before he earned his promotion to the big leagues by impressing in spring training and getting his contract selected to the 40-man roster ahead of opening day in 2025.
The Chicago Cubs selected him in the first round of the 2024 MLB draft, and he was then traded to the Astros alongside Isaac Paredes and Hayden Wesneski in a four-player trade deal that saw Kyle Tucker go the other way and sign up with the Cubs during the past offseason.
Houston Astros’ Rising Star Has Better OPS Than Some of the Power Hitters of the Game in 2025
Smith has adjusted well within the Astros unit in his rookie season and has been impressive in both departments of the game. He can play defense at both center field and right field, and he possesses a good arm, which allows him to tag players out with his powerful throws from the outfield.
It’s safe to say that the youngster has already found his rhythm at the plate. He has a .291 batting average, with seven home runs, 39 RBIs, and a .804 OPS in 74 games this season. Smith has already amassed 76 hits in 260 at-bats, including 15 doubles and two triples. A baseball enthusiast pointed out startling data surrounding Smith’s current OPS in a post on X.com.
The 22-year-old’s current OPS of .804 is better than some of the more experienced hitters in this campaign’s game. This list includes San Diego Padres’ OF Fernando Tatis Jr., New York Mets’ SS Francisco Lindor, Philadelphia Phillies’ SS Trea Turner, and Baltimore Orioles’ SS Gunnar Henderson. The post further emphasizes his young age and the fact that he is achieving all these stats after playing just 32 games in the MiLB.
Cam Smith has a better OPS than Tatis, Lindor, Gunnar, and Trea Turner at 22 years old after playing just 32 minor league baseball games
Do y’all know how insane that is https://t.co/JVlDBmIWAp
— AT (@YankeeWRLD) July 3, 2025
Smith is projected to hit over 12 home runs and register more than 70 RBIs this season. The Astros are currently on one of the hottest streaks in the league this campaign. They have won four series on the trot and are sitting comfortably atop the AL West standings with a decent 53-35 record.
The Astros have opened up a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in LA on Friday night and routed the defending champions in the series opener by a score of 18-1.