Astros Prospect Palooza: Multiple Young Guns Crack Opening Day Roster
Following a sensational Spring Training, it was announced Tuesday that Cam Smith earned a spot on the Astros’ roster.
For those who have not seen the video of how the team chose to tell Smith the news, take a minute to check it out. This is the type of stuff that makes sports special.
Even though Smith deservingly grabbed most of the headlines around Houston over the past several weeks, he is not the only Astros prospect to make his first Opening Day roster this year.
According to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome , Smith will be joined in Houston’s clubhouse on Thursday by former 12th-round draft pick (2022) Zach Dezenzo.
Dezenzo more than deserves his promotion, as the Ohio State product mashed his way to a stout 1.070 OPS with two homers and five doubles over 50 plate appearances this spring. That came on the heels of batting a cool .361 over 17 games in the Puerto Rican Winter League.
This will not be Dezenzo’s first taste of the big leagues. He spent time with the Astros in August, September, and even October last year.
Dezenzo did not do too much to impress at the plate against MLB pitching in 2024, but he did display his pop on a couple of occasions, ripping two roundtrippers over his 62 at-bats for the Astros.
With new additions Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes covering first and third base respectively for the Astros, Dezenzo does not really have an opening for regular playing time at his most familiar positions.
The rookie has also spent time working in the outfield over the past year, but Smith and Jose Altuve have the corners locked down. Yordan Alvarez is entrenched at DH.
With all that, Dezenzo figures to see limited at-bats but in an important bench role for the Astros.
If the 24-year-old can take advantage of every opportunity like he has this spring, manager Joe Espada will find ways to get Dezenzo’s bat in the mix as much as possible.
Espada said earlier this spring that “he’s (Dezenzo) got to understand this is going to be his role, and if he’s not playing every day, he’s got to adjust to that.” Regarding his young players, the Houston skipper added, “I want these guys to play.”
