The Cubs have signed third baseman Cam Smith to a $5,070,700 bonus, per Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo. That bonus matches the slot worth of the fourteenth total decide Chicago used to pick the infielder. Smith’s bonus will take up nearly all of Chicago’s $9,802,300 complete bonus pool for this 12 months’s draft.
Smith, 21, was usually anticipated to go in the course of the primary spherical, though prospect companies held some variations of opinion relating to his precise placement within the class. MLB Pipeline had Smith ranked precisely 14th, whereas Fangraphs was highest on him at seventh within the class. Baseball America (sixteenth), ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel (seventeenth), and The Athletic’s Keith Legislation (nineteenth) all ranked Smith just under Pipeline however nonetheless inside the draft’s high 20.
The Florida State product boasts a powerful .331/.420/.594 slash line throughout his time in collegiate ball, though it’s price noting that he adjusted his swing previous to his second 12 months within the ACC and took a serious step ahead with an eye-popping .387/.488/.654 slash line in 322 journeys to the plate. Listed at 6’3”, 224 lbs, there’s some debate amongst varied prospect companies about whether or not or not Smith will be capable to stick at third base long-term, however scouts usually appear to agree that even when he wants to maneuver to an outfield nook or first base his spectacular energy potential ought to enable him to remain related at positions the place extra stress might be placed on his bat.
It’s the second season in a row the place the Cubs used their first-round decide to pick a school infielder, and Smith figures to affix 2023 draftee Matt Shaw within the membership’s near-term infield plans. Dansby Swanson is locked in at shortstop long-term, and Michael Busch is unquestionably a part of the membership’s long-term plans amid a incredible rookie marketing campaign the place he’s slashed a 132 wRC+ because the membership’s main first baseman.
Even so, there’s nonetheless room within the membership’s huge league infield combine for an addition or two when Shaw and/or Smith are able to contribute. Christopher Morel has had an up-and-down season on the plate whereas struggling badly with the glove on the scorching nook, and whereas Nico Hoerner is at the moment locked in because the membership’s on a regular basis second baseman his contract runs solely via the tip of the 2026 season. With some scouts suggesting that Smith’s improvement could take a bit longer than is usually related to school place gamers, it’s actually possible to think about enjoying time opening up for Smith by the point he reaches the majors, even within the occasion that Shaw is ready to place himself as an on a regular basis infielder in his personal proper.