MARCH 18 • PANTAGRAPH.COM
SHANE SMITH #64 - PITCHER - CHICAGO WHITE SOX
7-8 W-L •
1.20 WHIP •
3.81 ERA
7-8 W-L
1.20 WHIP
3.81 ERA
White Sox pitcher Shane Smith turning heads in spring training “We’ve thrown a lot at him and he’s had some challenges, facing the Dodgers with that lineup. Passing with flying colors. It’s been really g...
Turns heads against Dodgers Smith struck out five batters and walked none while allowing one hit over three innings in his start against the Dodgers on Saturday.
Impact The first pick of the 2024 Rule 5 draft, Smith was left unprotected by Milwaukee but he has impressed thus far in White Sox camp. The 24-year-old righty averaged 96.8 mph on his four-seam fastball (touching 98.4 mph) and threw the pitch 55 percent of the time. He mixed in his three secondary offerings, but it was Smith's fastball that shut down a stacked Dodgers lineup, including two Ks against Shohei Ohtani plus one apiece against Freddie Freeman and Will Smith. With Drew Thorpe (elbow) likely to open the year on the shelf, Smith could win the final spot in Chicago's rotation. He has certainly pitched well enough this spring (nine Ks, 0.75 WHIP in 6.2 innings) that the White Sox won't be returning Smith to the Brewers.
MARCH 11 • ROTOWIRE
Smith looking to go from Rule 5 pick to impact arm GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Shane Smith mowed down one of baseball’s most intimidating lineups. Not bad for a Rule 5 pick who has yet to make his big...
MARCH 9 • MLB.COM
Rotation pushing to be strength for White Sox, who sure could use one Rule 5 pick Shane Smith tosses two perfect innings with three strikeouts vs. Mariners
MARCH 1 • SUNTIMES.COM
First pick of Rule 5 draft The White Sox selected Smith with the first pick in the Rule 5 draft Wednesday, JJ Cooper of Baseball America reports.
Impact Smith has a chance to be a viable rotation option for the White Sox as early as this season, and he'll need to be kept on the big-league roster (or injured list) all season, otherwise the White Sox would have to return him to the Brewers. Smith has a 93 mph fastball and throws a pair of breaking balls and logged 94.1 innings across Double-A and Triple-A, with all his work as a starter (16 starts) coming at Double-A. He logged a 2.96 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 74 strikeouts in 67 innings as a starter, and also struck out 39 in 27.1 innings as a reliever. Smith may be eased into his big-league career as a low-leverage multi-inning reliever, but he could also get some starts in the first half.
DECEMBER 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Working out of Triple-A bullpen Smith was promoted from Double-A Biloxi to Triple-A Nashville on Sept. 3.
Impact Smith, a 6-foot-4 righty, opened the year pitching in short stints at Double-A before getting stretched out and having success as a starter (2.96 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 74:22 K:BB in 67 IP). He's finishing the year back in a relief role after getting the bump to Nashville. The Brewers signed Smith as an undrafted free agent in 2021 after he had just undergone Tommy John surgery, as the hurler opted to rehab with professional coaches rather than stay at Wake Forest. His 93.1 innings this year are the most he has thrown in any season on record, so the decision to sign with Milwaukee seems to have paid off. Smith, who works with a running four-seamer at the top of the zone and a wicked slider, is positioned to be a rotation option for the big club next summer.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
