Chicago Cubs Prospect Profile: Cam Smith

There was a time when the Cubs had a hard time making their first-round draft picks. Then Theo Epstein came to nothing, and by 2012, when the Cubs selected Javier Baez, it had been a decade-plus stretch in which the Cubs had made virtually every single one of their first-round picks.

From Baez to Kris Bryant, Ian Happ, Kyle SchwarberAnd Nico Hornsthe list goes on as the Cubs have had quite a bit of success lately in terms of successful first round picks. However, nothing could have prepared them for the last two MLB Drafts, where they have given a whole new meaning to hitting in the first round.

A year after selecting Matt Shaw in the first round and watching him sail through the minor leagues to reach AAA, the Cubs were back in 2024 with third baseman Cam Smith in the past put on quite a show this season. The former Florida State Seminole, selected 14th overall, had one of the best bats in the country and it didn’t take long for him to show everyone why.

The big 6-3, 224-pound Smith already has an MLB-caliber physique and could get even stronger with more time in the weight room. Looking back on his prep years, the slugger was already turning heads as a top three-round prospect based on the raw power he developed in high school, but he ultimately decided to commit to Florida State go.

After struggling during his first season, Smith went to the Cape Cod League to make some swing adjustments and boy, did it pay off immensely. He returned to Florida State and quickly developed into one of the better power hitters in this year’s class. Take a look at his final season in Tallahassee, where Smith earned All-American honors by leading Florida State with a .387 average and 16 home runs.

That alone was enough for the Cubs to select him in the first round and sign him for more than $5 million. When talking about a fast-rising prospect, Smith is the definition of it, having only played 32 professional games and already knocking on the AAA door. What started in Myrtle Beach at the start of the season ended with AA Tennessee as Smith put on quite a show.

Small sample size or not, Smith more than held his own. In those 32 games, he hit .313 overall, with 15 walks and 24 strikeouts. He also hit seven home runs and 24 RBIs, including six games with the Pelicans, where he hit a home run in six consecutive games. There’s a reason his name is currently being discussed in trade talks, as other teams can see how valuable he’s quickly becoming.

Several factors led to his breakout season in 2024, the biggest being a decline in strikeout rate, which went from a 29% K rate in 2023 to just 15% in 2024. He also completed his batting stance easily and did much better pitch recognition, resulting in better swings and harder contact.

Smith is your classic right-handed power hitting threat. Not only does he line up the ball to make loud contact, but he also creates incredibly fast swing with his strong hands. At times his aggressive approach can get the best of him as he has a tendency to get too hit-happy at times, leading to a lot of ground ball outs.

However, given the performance he’s shown this season, there’s no reason why he can’t be a strong gap-to-gap power hitter should he start hitting the ball in the air more consistently, which is what you typically look for in one Guy on the hot corner. Smith isn’t what you would call a slow runner, but he isn’t much of a threat on the bases and will take whatever the defense gives him.

His plus arm makes it easy to stay at the hot corner, but his lack of defense makes him a liability at times as he may have to move to DH or to a corner on the other side. Regardless, Smith is one of the hottest names on the trade market right now, and the Cubs know it. Still, you have to move talent to get talent, and if the Cubs want to make a splash, Smith could be the one to get a deal done.