The Houston Astros enter the 2025 season with intriguing roster decisions and key players working their way back from injury. With Opening Day approaching, one of the biggest questions is whether Cam Smith makes the team—and if he does, is it because of his talent or a lack of strong alternatives?

Cam Smith and the outfield puzzle

The Astros have long prioritized defense, making the possibility of starting two outfielders (Jose Altuve, Cam Smith) with no experience before this spring a curious decision. Chas McCormick is a solid defender, but his below-average arm strength limits his effectiveness in right field. If McCormick gets the nod over Smith, he'll be a better overall defender. But an outfield of Altuve, Jake Meyers, and McCormick might have one of the weakest throwing arms in the league. That’s why the Astros might take the gamble on Smith developing defensively in right—his power bat could make up for the learning curve in the field.

Plus, Altuve and Smith will gain experience as the season progresses, and by the time the playoffs roll around, both could be much-improved defensively.

Spencer Arrighetti’s new secret weapon

Spencer Arrighetti is making adjustments of his own, working on a sinker to generate more ground balls. Opposing batters slugged over .500 against his four-seam fastball in 2024, which made up about 40% of his arsenal. Given that he threw only 10 sinkers last season, per Baseball Savant, this is a major shift in approach.

Arrighetti is an extreme fly-ball pitcher, but he struggles to finish batters off and often throws too many pitches early in games. In his most recent outing, this Thursday, he needed over 50 pitches to get through the first three innings. If the sinker helps him get more weak contact and ground balls, he could take a leap similar to the one Hunter Brown made in his development.

Injury updates and roster moves

The Astros are also dealing with several injuries and rehab assignments:

• Brice Matthews was reassigned to minor league camp, with manager Joe Espada noting that second base is where he can develop into an above-average defender.
• Christian Walker has resumed hitting in the cage after missing time with a sore oblique, a promising sign for his return.
• Luis Garcia is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
• Lance McCullers is making steady progress in his rehab and is expected to pitch in a game next week for the first time this spring.
• Kaleb Ort threw 15 pitches in his latest rehab outing as he works his way back from an oblique injury.

Final thoughts

The Astros have some big decisions ahead, particularly in the outfield. If Cam Smith breaks camp with the team, will it be a testament to his offensive potential or a reflection of the Astros' lack of depth? Perhaps a little of both.

Meanwhile, Spencer Arrighetti’s sinker could be a game-changer for his development, potentially helping him become a more efficient starter. With key players like McCullers and Garcia on the mend, the pitching staff is looking like a strength for the ball club.

We have so much more to cover. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!

The countdown to Opening Day is on. Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!

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