As Joe Espada aspired to be a big league manager, he dreamed of one day making a future player’s call-up to the Major Leagues a special moment.

Smith, who was drafted 14th overall by the Cubs last year, raked in spring training for the Astros, hitting .342/.419/.711 with four home runs in 15 appearances. That performance made it a pretty easy decision to put him on the Opening Day roster, and he'll be in Houston on Thursday as the Astros get their season started against the New York Mets .

So the skipper pulled out his phone and asked if a certain someone was at Daikin Park, and that someone was Smith’s mom, Stephanie Hocza, who then gave her teary-eyed son a big hug in the clubhouse as he received the news he’d be with the big league club.