Carlos Correa knows better than most what it’s like to be a young budding superstar in the Houston Astros‘ system.
So he thinks Cam Smith is going to ultimately be fine.
The recently re-acquired Astros infielder offered a vote of confidence to their rookie outfielder amid his struggles at the plate, especially over the past month-and-a-half.
Smith entered the year as the No. 59 prospect in all of baseball, per MLB Pipeline, yet is slashing just .242./.312/.357 in 433 plate appearances for the Astros. He also will take a 1 for 22 slump into their series opener against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.
What Did Carlos Correa Say About Cam Smith’s Slump?
Smith just turned 22 in February, yet he is an old timer when compared Correa, who entered the majors as a 20-year-old shortstop for Houston in 2014.
So when asked about Smith’s struggles, Correa, in his second tour with the Astros after they acquired him from the Minnesota Twins last month, praised the outfielder.
“Heâs handled it better than anybody would handle it,” Correa told The Athletic. “He reminds me a lot of when I was young and trying to make an influence on this game. He wants to be the best, and thatâs something I want to help with.
“Heâs a physical specimen, and itâs impressive how mature he is for his age and how hungry he is.”
Smith’s been going through it in the second half, since he is slashing .140/.209/.180 with no home runs and 33 strikeouts in 30 games since the All-Star break. Yet, that was another thing Correa could identify with.
“I know when youâre struggling it can be a lonely place, especially with a lot of people telling you different things and a lot of voices,” Correa said. “Everybody is a hitting coach when youâre going bad. Iâm just making sure that he stays sane and trusts the process and goes out there with a clear mind every single day.”
Correa also is working with Smith on hitting for power. The 6-3, 224-pound outfielder has just seven home runs and only 29 extra base hits — a far cry from his .609 slugging average in his quick ascent through the Astros’ minor-league system.
“People think youâre supposed to hit for a lot of power, but actually the guys with shorter arms are the guys that have an easier time barreling the ball, especially in the air,â Correa said. âTrying to teach him how to be mechanically efficient so he can be more consistent.â
How Has Cam Smith’s Slump Affected the Astros?
The Astros were 19-7 in June, going from a half-game out of first place to seven games up on the Seattle Mariners on July 1.
Yet, much like Smith, the Astros have gone the wrong way. They are 17-24 in their past 41 games and have a minus-30 run differential in August (117-87). They now lead the AL West by just two games after taking three of four from the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards over the weekend.
Yet, according to Smith, finding and correcting the things he and the Astros can control have helped amid their recent struggles.
“Itâs about leaving the day saying âOK, I can do this better,â” Smith told The Athletic. “As long as you have something to work on to improve the next day, I think youâre in a good spot. Itâs when you feel stuck and you donât have anything to work on, thatâs dangerous.
“Iâve been finding stuff every day to keep motivating myself internally for it to relate out to the games.”
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