caulfield12

https://soxmachine.com/2025/03/what-do-the-white-sox-have-in-rule-5-pick-shane-smith/ "24-year-old Shane Smith grew up in the Boston area and attended The Governor's Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts. A star on and off the field, Smith chose to head to Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Unfortunately, he missed the 2019 season due to injury. In 2020, he was the team's closer but only pitched in five games before Covid ended the season. He made two starts for Wake Forest in 2021 before hurting his elbow and needing Tommy John surgery. With just 10 1/3 innings under his belt over three college seasons, Smith went undrafted. He could have stayed at Wake, rehabbed most of the 2022 season, and had a year of eligibility remaining in 2023. Instead..." https://brewerfanatic.com/news-rumors/brewers-minor-league/brewers-prospect-spotlight-rhp-shane-smith-r2776/ "White Sox Rule 5 pick Shane Smith generated a lot of enthusiasm in his second outing of the spring for averaging 98.3 mph on the 15 four-seamers he threw. While Smith had reportedly spiked to such velocity heights in the Brewers organization on occasion, it’s a solid four ticks over his four-seamer’s average from last season, and it comes early in the process of stretching out, as the 24-year-old has largely been relegated to the bullpen in the past by injury and circumstance. As far as early developments go, it’s certainly a lot better than starting out four miles per hour slower than his previous norms. In these parts, considering how things could be worse is never a waste of time, since an awful spring record proved not to be a fluke last season."

And the Dodgers had been the best team in AZ the last week plus...

https://www.mlb.com/news/shane-smith-strikes-out-5-in-spring-start-vs-dodgers%3Ft%3Dmlb-pipeline-coverage&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjZ66SF3PuLAxWbADQIHWH5Oh4QFnoECAcQAg&usg=AOvVaw0xRVGY94D-zKrT8ewNK0S5 He topped out at 98.4 miles per hour, and 44 percent of his fastballs were either called strikes or whiffs. He also mixed in his slider, changeup and curveball, but overwhelmingly relied on his fastball to establish control and take over the game. “Fastball for strikes; if I don’t have that, then it’s going to be a really long day,” Smith said. “If I can get that first strike, I think good things can happen.” His last start...he was consistently at 97-100, but that might have been a "hot gun." Glasnow's best fastball today was 98 as well. Interestingly possesses a fora or what they're calling a split change...although his offspeed was essentially a Thorpe-ish FB at 92 in this one. #2 story is Vargas and Sosa deciding they want to be real big leaguers.

The Wilsons and Perez won't fetch much. Martin might end up being the best trade chip...feel like Cannon will naturally slide to the back of the rotation. Leaving Thorpe and Shane Smith as the wild cards. Sh. Smith's emergence as a Rule 5 pick might be the biggest story of camp so far. Other than Taylor and the Schultz/Smith slider...might have the best "easy" 96-100 arm in the entire organization. And an amazing backstory, too.

Feduccia is a catcher with a very good idea of the strike zone...

I don't think it would have been possible for the majority to do worse than the worst since 1900...

All about health...

Skenes would second that notion.

Booser looked good today as well...big question is who's the closer? Taylor mowing down the Dodgers. He's definitely a Top 100 guy. Punches out the side. Oops Feduccia appeals and wins by an inch. Swing and a wild miss.

And they might actually peruse your resume...a new admin.

White Sox still with 61 in camp, 30 pitchers. Dodgers down to 45...only 4 games left in Arizona.

Taylor continues to impress. Meidroth needs more AAA time...

Cannon will definitely be in the rotation. Bryse Wilson will be fine out of the pen.

ND/Duke time...Nastrini at least at 94.3.

Robert looking much more engaged this spring. Walk after starting out down 1-2. Tauchman looking old up there. Another K. Snell Ohtani Glasnow Gonsolin led majors in baa over 2022-24 period. not fair lol.

Taylor toast...completely overpowered. Meidroth flinching up there...not comfortable against Glasnow. 2/16 double from Chase this spring. Robert .389 ba

Ohtani Kd twice at 98 mph. Please keep Sosa away from the left side of the infield...

Sounds a lot like the Vargas case.

All snark aside, Smith is going to be the best Sox starter by the end of the season...north of Birmingham at least.

Vargas home run. wow. abused a hanging slider looks like he has gained 20+ pounds

Rojas third Baldwin SS Sosa 2B Meidroth has to show more with the bat.

HBP to Muncy...weak fly out to CF by 9/20 Rojas. Taichman caught in net like Eloy. Taylor K's at 97 on the black. 4 ks Smith consistently 96-98. Vargas with a solid stop at first. Pages kicks out playfully to his fellow Cuban while crossing the bag.

Curveball wiped out Tauchman. .098 average against that pitch

Robert broken bat single at 98 after Meidroth drove one to Rosario at the RF wall.

Don't see a single Sox hat behind the plate. K'd Freeman at 98. Betts had feared a single to RF. Kd Smithv looking at 97. Lee had ball call barely reversed to get an 0-2 count. This kid has to be in the rotation.