Cam Smith has quickly become one of the Astros’ most exciting players this season. On opening day, he showed why he earned a spot in the starting lineup.
So far, Smith has made some incredible plays on the field, including an impressive reach against the wall to snag an out. Later in the same game, he sprinted toward the netting, caught the ball, launched himself into the seats, got twisted mid-air, and flipped the ball back to Walker to keep the play alive.
But Smith’s highlights haven’t been limited to spectacular catches. During the third game against the Boston Red Sox, a bizarre umpire mishap turned what should have been a strikeout into a walk.
Home-plate umpire and crew chief Mark Wegner completely lost track of the count during Smith’s fifth-inning plate appearance. After swinging and missing at the first three pitches from Red Sox starter Brayan Bello, Smith ended up drawing a walk on just three balls. Reports say Smith didn’t even realize the mistake until he returned to the dugout.
No one on the field noticed at the time, though manager Joe Espada reportedly caught it and chose not to alert Wegner. Wegner later admitted the error after reviewing video postgame.
Between jaw-dropping defensive plays and this unusual plate appearance, Cam Smith has already made his mark this season. His combination of athleticism and good fortune has created unforgettable moments, and Astros fans are eagerly watching to see what he does next.