HOUSTON — Nearly one year ago, Cam Smith continued the Chicago Cubs’ recent tradition of drafting first-round picks out of college with the potential for a quick rise through the minor-league system.
Smith even acknowledged that the night he was selected, stating his goal was to get to the majors as fast as he could. A key piece of the offseason trade to Houston for Kyle Tucker, Smith made history by making the Astros’ opening day roster at 22 years old after playing only 32 minor-league games, including just five at Double A.
Smith, batting fourth Friday, delivered a big swing for the Astros in the Cubs’ 7-4 loss, connecting for a three-run home run off rookie Cade Horton as the decisive blow in the fourth inning.
Smith insisted before Friday’s opener in the first meeting between the two teams since the trade that he was going to be playing the same game.
When questioned about wanting to make the Cubs regret trading him, though, he couldn’t fully suppress a grin hours before facing his old organization.
“Honestly, I hope that my game speaks for itself,” said Smith, who had two hits and two walks Friday. “I’m not going to force anything, but I’ll tell you what, I will have a good time. I’ll greet everybody from the Cubs because obviously that was who drafted me. No bad blood, though.
“It’s no secret that everybody’s going to be watching this series specifically. It’s going to be a fun one. Honestly, this is the kind of baseball we live for, so I look forward to it.”
Acquiring a slugger of Tucker’s caliber has paid off for the Cubs, who reached the midpoint of the season in first place. The long-term impact of the trade, with the inclusion of Smith in the deal, brought risk because of his immense upside. After struggling the first month of the season (.213 average and .306 on-base percentage), Smith has gotten on track and is hitting .306 and owns a .376 OBP in his last 45 games.
“At the lower levels you don’t fail as big as you do at this stage,” Smith said. “So learning how to deal with that failure, it’s inevitable.”
Horton experienced the toughest night of his young big-league career in Friday’s loss. The Astros torched him for eight hits and seven runs in four innings. A lack of feel for his stuff contributed to four walks and a pair of three-run home runs.
The Cubs (48-34) chipped away enough at the 7-0 lead over the final five innings to force Houston to bring in closer Josh Hader, who got Ian Happ to line out with a runner on second and Tucker on deck. Nico Hoerner hit his second home run of the season, both within the last four games, and Matt Shaw drove in three runs on two doubles.
When Smith slugged his no-doubt home run in the fourth, Horton didn’t even bother to turn to watch the baseball’s flight.
“I thought we had a good game plan going into it, just never really caught my footing,” Horton said. “Let up too many walks. Had a guy 0-2, just a recipe for disaster. I got my ass kicked today. … It was the first time (in the majors) I felt like I wasn’t able to slow the game down, and I let my emotions get the best of me today. I’ve got to learn from it and move on.”
Manager Craig Counsell told Horton that Friday’s environment at Daikin Park in front of 49,451 fans and an electric atmosphere was a good example of what the playoffs will feel like, just turned up a couple of notches. The 23-year-old appreciated Counsell’s message.
“That experience right there will help me be better in October,” Horton said. “I’d rather get my ass kicked tonight than go out in October and get my ass kicked there.”