Cam Smith sets Pelicans record with homers in 5 straight
Cam Smith watched his latest home run leave Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Ballpark and had just one thing to say to himself before running around the bases: “Wow.” The dinger extended his streak to homers in five consecutive games during his first full month as a professional with Single-A Myrtle
Cam Smith watched his latest home run leave Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Ballpark and had just one thing to say to himself before running around the bases:
“Wow.”
The dinger extended his streak to homers in five consecutive games during his first full month as a professional with Single-A Myrtle Beach, becoming the first player in club history to reach the mark. The solo shot helped secure the Pelicans’ 4-1 win over the Charleston RiverDogs on Saturday night. It was also a sign that Smith is on the right path in his adjustment from playing at Florida State University to pro baseball.
📩 CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO BEN'S BIZ
There have been ups and downs for Smith since being selected 14th overall in the 2024 Draft by the Cubs. Before the beginning of his home run streak on Tuesday, the Cubs’ No. 8 prospect had strung together just four hits in nine Single-A appearances.
"You know that corny saying of, ‘Trusting the process?’ I've kind of lived by that, and it keeps you down to earth and it keeps you grounded,” Smith said. “So I trust my abilities and hope I'll get lucky someday. And it's been pretty good so far.”
Maybe part of it is luck, but Smith has also been doing his part, making adjustments to his at-bats.
“I would say the main thing was timing,” Smith said. “That's always something that us ball players have to get used to when you get back into the flow of things.
"And it was a slow process, but we're here now.”
Smith is now batting .311 with a 1.125 OPS and has recorded three multihit performances in his recent five-game heater. Earlier in the week, after just his second straight game at Single-A with dinger, the third baseman said he had no words.
“I never even thought I could get close to what I'm doing right now, but it's pretty cool to see,” he said.
Some players -- especially ones with the track record that Smith compiled during his time with the Seminoles -- would have looked at the results from earlier in the month, but Smith didn’t. The everyday nature of pro ball, which he enjoys, has helped him shift his focus on improving instead of focusing on the negative.
"It's been awesome being able to play every day. That's the best thing for us ball players. We have a short amount of time to think about our performance, as opposed to playing at school," Smith said. "There were some up and downs throughout this whole process -- I've just kind of taken it day by day, not trying to look at the results."
Smith enters a Cubs system brimming with talent. Chicago was one of five clubs to have six Top 100 overall prospects in MLB Pipeline's recent update and ranked eighth in their in-season farm system rankings. He is aware of the attention he receives as a first-round Draft pick, particularly joining a franchise that has national appeal.
“You have attention, but at the same time you're the small fish in the big pond,” Smith said of the difference between college and the pros. “These guys have been here for a long time and been playing at this level for a long time. So I lean on them and allow them to help me through this process and guide me.
“[Florida State head baseball coach] Link Jarrett helped me a lot with maturity and professionalism and the way you go about yourself on and off the field. So I definitely brought that here to Myrtle Beach and with the Pelicans. So I’m grateful for that and I think it’s the right way to go about business.”
Smith, a longtime participant in the MLB Develops program, saw everything click for him this past year with Florida State. After posting a solid .843 OPS in 2023, his numbers skyrocketed this spring with a .387/.488/.654 slash line in which he walked nearly as many times as he struck out, staking his claim to being a first-round talent.
“Even through all the success, I feel like I'm still very humble, because it's not me doing this work, it's the man above,” he said. “So I have to remember not to get too wise in my own eyes. So that's what's keeping me grounded. And I'm enjoying it. I'm not taking it for granted, but at the same time you shoot to be even-keeled throughout the whole process.”
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring