The Houston Astros' decision to put 2024 first-round pick Cam Smith on their Opening Day roster was the talk of the first month of the season. Acquired from the Chicago Cubs in the Kyle Tucker, Smith was blistering hot in spring training, and in a year where the idea was that Houston would be leaning toward their younger players, it was hard to see much issue with the decision.
For the first three months of the season, the decision seemed to be paying off. The Astros were flirting with being one of the best teams in the American League, and Smith entered July with a slash line of .