With a plus hit tool, solid power, an excellent arm and good fielding instincts at the hot corner, Florida State sophomore Cam Smith is the best true third baseman in the 2024 Draft class.

Here’s your guide to the No. 14 overall pick, selected by the Cubs.

FAST FACTS
Position: 3B
Ht/Wt: 6-foot-3, 224 lbs.
B/T: Right/right
DOB: Feb. 22, 2003
College: Florida State
High school: Palm Beach Central (Wellington, Fla.)
Born: Lake Worth, Fla.
MLB Pipeline ranking: No. 14
MLB Draft selection: No. 14 overall (Cubs)

A standout season

Smith’s sophomore season at Florida State helped dispel a lot of the questions Draft evaluators previously had about him.

Not only did Smith bump up his batting average from .258 as a college freshman in 2023 to a team-leading .387, but he showed significant improvement in plate discipline. Smith struck out 66 times in 209 at-bats in 2023, compared to 48 times in 269 ABs this spring. He walked 44 times as a sophomore, more than double his amount of walks in 2023 (21).

Smith made 11 errors in 121 chances (a .921 fielding percentage) last year but committed just seven errors in 144 opportunities this year (.954). He attempted only four stolen bases in 2024 but was not caught once, an improvement on his freshman season at FSU (three steals in six attempts). Smith’s run tool was his only attribute to receive a below-average grade (45) on the 20-80 scale, but he has become a better runner since high school.

MLB Pipeline graded Smith’s throwing arm as his best tool, giving it a strong grade of 60 and rating his fielding as a 55. Smith’s hit tool also received a 55 grade, while his power earned an average mark of 50. Smith hit 12 home runs as a freshman at FSU and 16 more as a sophomore.

A postseason performer

Smith shined in the NCAA tournament as a sophomore, helping Florida State reach the Men’s College World Series in 2024 for the first time since 2019.

He hammered two-run homers in back-to-back games against UCF as the Seminoles swept through NCAA regional play. In super regionals, Smith went 5-for-9 across two games against UConn, driving in two runs in Game 1 of the best-of-three set. FSU swept UConn to book a trip to Omaha, Neb., for the MCWS. Smith delivered doubles in each of his first two College World Series contests, scoring a run in both games and also crossing the plate in an elimination-game win over North Carolina.

By the time Florida State bowed out with its second loss to eventual champion Tennessee, Smith had compiled a strong postseason. He finished the NCAA tournament 11-for-35 (.314) with 11 walks, two homers, seven RBIs and a 1.032 OPS.

For a player who grew up a Seminoles fan and made a trip to the MCWS back in 2017, it was quite the ride.

“It’s a dream come true,” Smith told the 11Point7 podcast. “I’ve always been a Florida State fan and just to know inside that I’m playing for Florida State baseball with this uniform on in Omaha, there’s nothing better.”

An opposite-field approach

Smith is well acquainted with his strengths and weaknesses as a player, and one of them has served him well at the plate.

“So, one thing about me is anything I hit is pretty much opposite field,” Smith said while mic’d up during MCWS batting practice at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha. “Just straight opposite field, just to get that feel of staying inside the ball. Rarely will you see me pull the ball in BP.”

That might not make for the most thrilling batting practice clips, but Smith gets the job done when it matters.

“I’ve probably got the most boring BP, but it works in games,” he said.

Smooth moves on the basepaths

During a midweek game against North Florida on April 23, Smith pulled off one of the most physically impressive slides you’ll ever see.

Charging home from second base on an infield single from teammate James Tibbs III (taken one pick before him) in the fourth inning, Smith certainly looked like he was destined to be thrown out at home plate. Instead, though, he managed to evade Ospreys catcher Jabin Bates with an incredible display of athleticism.

Smith popped up from his slide on a dime, scrambled around Bates and smacked his right hand down on the plate before being tagged. The Seminoles star’s creative play added a run to FSU’s 6-1 lead in an eventual 10-2 victory.

A way to stay calm

Smith’s freshman season at Florida State taught him a valuable lesson.

“I really need to settle down by myself before I step on the field,” Smith told the Palm Beach Post. “I have to do something to get me calm."

How does Smith do that? By meditating, which for Smith involves listening to relaxing music. He listed Bob Marley, Khalid and Morgan Wallen as some of his top choices.

Smith has preached the importance of meditating before every game to FSU recruits, according to the Post.

“It's easy to get hyped up for a rivalry game, playoff games and stuff like that, but if you can find a way to stay calm and confident, you're unbeatable,” he said.

It goes right along with a motto Smith shared while mic’d up by the NCAA.

“Think small, big things happen,” he said. “That’s what I live by.”

A ‘sweet’ nickname

How did Smith earn the surprising nickname “Sweet Pickle”?

That one dates back to his childhood, Smith told 11Point7. Noticing Smith was having a bad day, his cousin gave him the moniker, just to cheer him up. It worked: Smith busted out laughing, and a new nickname was born.

“It’s just been a thing ever since,” he said.

And while it isn’t related to his nickname, Smith confirmed he DOES enjoy drinking pickle juice for hydration.

“I can’t lie,” he admitted.