Florida State's baseball program enjoyed a successful 2024 campaign where it finished with a 49-17 overall record. Last year was a special one for head baseball coach Link Jarrett. There were many moments that made you say "WOW!" from superstar pitcher Jaime Arnold and the dynamic offense.
The bats in the offense struggled over the past couple of years in Tallahassee. However, they came alive in 2024 with the help of power hitters James Tibbs III and Cam Smith.
It was a shame that the Seminoles did not get awarded its first College World Series championship in program history. The Tennessee Volunteers got the best of them in a three-game series (the home plate umpire should have called the strikeout to end the game).
Nonetheless, Tibbs III and Smith went on to the big leagues.
The San Francisco Giants selected outfielder James Tibbs III with the 13th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, while third baseman Cam Smith was picked by the Chicago Cubs with the following selection (14th overall pick).
Smith's Cubs career was cut short as the organization traded him and two players to the Houston Astros in December for outfielder Kyle Tucker. The talented prospect batted .258 with 12 HRs and 36 RBIs for the Seminoles in 2023, but he saw that number skyrocket to a surprising .387 average with 16 HRs and 57 RBIs.
He has always been known as a proven power hitter, but some fans wondered if the trend would continue in the professional ranks.
Ironically enough, one of my good friends (who is an Astros fan) texted me the following statement: "Cam Smith is a dawg!"
After he sent the text message to me, I knew that Smith had to have had a productive game, and sure enough, the former Florida State standout had the entire MLB community talking about him on social media.
CAM SMITH! HOMERUN! pic.twitter.com/NFlvRLbljp
— Houston Astros (@astros) February 25, 2025
Here is a breakdown of Cam Smith's at-bat breakdown in today's spring training matchup versus the New York Mets: Walk, walk, home run, and home run.
The two home runs are something that caught many individuals by surprise, but we as a Seminole fan base are used to it. I hope that Smith can find a home with the Houston Astros organization and be someone that they can rely on at the plate sooner rather than later.