Cam Smith showed flashes of this potential as a rookie.
So far in 2026, though, it’s starting to look like the Houston Astros have a rising star on their hands.
Smith slugged a 462-foot home run on Monday — yes, helped by Coors Field, but also the longest homer of the entire MLB season so far.
462-FOOT HOME RUN FOR CAM SMITH
(via @astros )pic.twitter.com/UE5uGW2GKS
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 7, 2026
The ball went so far that the camera didn’t even see where it landed.
Smith was always supposed to turn into a great hitter. The Astros did surprise a bit by keeping him up for 2025 Opening Day, and by converting him from a third baseman into a right fielder.
That set him up for natural growing pains last season, and he definitely had some.
This season, he’s swinging well and defending well, too.
And at the plate, his bat speed is up. That’s why this isn’t a fluke. Smith’s swing is legitimately quite impressive:
#Astros Cam Smith hit the farthest home run of the season yesterday at 462ft. He has the highest increase in bat speed from 2025 to 2026 at +2.9 MPH which ranks 5th overall in @mlb at 77.4 MPH https://t.co/w9m24ej6cO pic.twitter.com/93M2Wk0aHV
— Daren Willman (@darenw) April 7, 2026
Bat speed is a stat that stabilizes quite quickly. That is likely already a representation of the new swing Smith is working with this season.
And for both the Astros’ present and future, Smith is looking like a crucial cog.
