Smith one of 10 players from 2024 Draft to agree to terms with Cubs, including nine of first 10 selections
CHICAGO, Ill. – The Chicago Cubs today announced they have agreed to terms with 10 players from the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, including first-round selection (14th overall) infielder Cam Smith from Florida State University. The Cubs have agreed to terms with nine of their first 10 selections from the draft. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Along with Smith, the Cubs have agreed to terms with infielder Cole Mathis (second round), infielder Ronny Cruz (third round), catcher Ariel Armas (fifth round), right-handed pitcher Ryan Gallagher (sixth round), outfielder Ivan Brethowr (seventh round), infielder Edgar Alvarez (eighth round), right-handed pitcher Brooks Caple (ninth round), infielder Matt Halbach (10th round) and right-handed pitcher Daniel Avitia (12th round).
Smith, 21, batted .387 (104-for-269) with 22 doubles, one triple, 16 home runs, 47 RBI, and a 1.142 OPS in 66 games for Florida State in 2024. He recorded 44 walks, compared to 48 strikeouts, contributing to a .488 on-base percentage. Smith saw a batting average increase of 129 points, from .258 as a freshman. In postseason play, Smith hit homers in back-to-back games against UCF in the regionals and went 5-for-9 in two games against UConn in the super regionals. All told in postseason play, Smith batted .314 (11-for-35) with two home runs, seven RBI and a 1.032 OPS.
In 2023, Smith earned the Robert A. McNece Award for the Most Outstanding Prospect in the Cape Cod League, appearing in 44 games for Hyannis, batting .347 (58-for-167) with 12 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 26 RBI. All told, in two seasons at Florida State, Smith hit a combined .331 (158-for-478) with 30 doubles, six triples, 28 home runs, 93 RBI and a 1.014 OPS in 117 games.
Smith was recommended by area scout Ike Ballou.
Mathis, 20, played three seasons at the College of Charleston, batting a combined .327 (136-for-416) with 38 doubles, three triples, 24 home runs and 112 RBI in 133 games. In 2024, Mathis was named to the All-CAA First Team and the CAA All-Tournament Team, after he ranked fifth in the CAA in OPS (1.122), tied for fifth in runs (63) and sixth in slugging percentage (.650), doubles (17) and RBI (57). During the campaign, he batted .335 (67-for-200) with a .472 on-base percentage.
Mathis was recommended by area scout M’Lynn Dease.
Here is a look at Chicago’s 20 selections from the 2024 First-Year Player Draft (players in bold have agreed to terms with the club):
