HOUSTON — Cam Smith is on the board.
Smith, the wunderkind prospect who made the Houston Astros’ roster after just 134 professional plate appearances, launched his first major-league home run in the eighth inning of Friday’s 14-3 shellacking of the Los Angeles Angels.
Smith hit a 1-1 changeup on the inner third of his strike zone for a 370-foot blast that sneaked into the first few rows of the Crawford Boxes. It would’ve left only eight other major-league ballparks, according to Statcast.
The home run continued an encouraging stretch for Smith, who started his major-league career with nine strikeouts and two singles in his first 18 at-bats. Manager Joe Espada sat Smith on Sunday and Monday for Houston’s hitting coaches to implement some adjustments in his batting stance and proximity to home plate.
Smith is 6-for-11 since sitting out those two games. He drove in his first big-league run with a triple on Tuesday in Seattle before adding two more extra-base hits during Friday’s drubbing of the Angels.
Perhaps the most encouraging swing of all arrived two frames before Smith’s first home run. Facing Angels reliever Michael Darrell-Hicks, Smith ambushed a first-pitch sinker into center field for a standup double. Coaches had implored him to hunt fastballs early in the count and avoid hitting everything to the opposite field.
Smith accomplished both tasks, eliciting a wild celebration at second base during a blowout game. Two innings later, more excitement ensued.
(Photo: Michael Wyke / Associated Press)