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.

Edited March 9, 20251 yr by 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."

Edited March 9, 20251 yr by caulfield12

It would be an absolute crime to not let him be our 5th starter right now. He looked fantastic today, the stuff is legit. I hate use spring training as the basis for evaluating a player, but it's beyond me how the Brewers let him unprotected. It's front end stuff or legit closer potential. I think he's now our 4th best pitching prospect.

Edited March 9, 20251 yr by mac9001

47 minutes ago, mac9001 said:

It would be an absolute crime to not let him be our 5th starter right now. He looked fantastic today, the stuff is legit. I hate use spring training as the basis for evaluating a player, but it's beyond me how the Brewers let him unprotected. It's front end stuff or legit closer potential. I think he's now out 4th best pitching prospect.

I'm just going to look at it as making up for whatever Colson doesn't do or become...

Now, if only they can get something useful back for Robert AND ace the 2025/26 drafts...

Sox should take it slow as hell with Thorpe.  I honestly think they should be employing a 6 man rotation.  I’d like to see both Smith and Wilson in the rotation.  Try to turn Wilson into a trade asset.

https://athlonsports.com/mlb/milwaukee-brewers/former-brewers-prospect-turns-heads-after-striking-out-shohei-ohtani-dodgers-stars

Walter McKinven credited for the Smith acquisition...and one would assume Bryse Wilson as well.

 

"After not protecting Smith for the Rule 5 Draft, the Chicago White Sox selected Smith with the first overall pick back in December. With a desperate need for pitching talent, the White Sox raided one of the most pitching-rich organizations in baseball. They also hired away Brewers pitching, catching, and strategy coach Walker McKinven this offseason, who knew of Smith already.

Smith has been showing off his top-end velocity this spring as he is in line to make the White Sox starting rotation.

Because the White Sox are in the midst of a rebuild and Smith has been so dominant, he's likely to stick around in Chicago all season. Even if he struggles, the White Sox will likely be inclined to keep him on the big league roster instead of returning him especially with the impression he's making this spring.

The Brewers may have made a serious miscalculation this offseason when they chose not to protect Smith, hoping that no one would pick him up. They did add Logan Henderson and Chad Patrick, both of whom were smart additions and would have been selected, but perhaps they should've made room for one more."

 

Edited March 9, 20251 yr by caulfield12

9 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Sox should take it slow as hell with Thorpe.  I honestly think they should be employing a 6 man rotation.  I’d like to see both Smith and Wilson in the rotation.  Try to turn Wilson into a trade asset.

Not sure Wilson becomes much of a trade asset if you let him start.

Shane Smith had only 94 minor league innings last year...and 60 the previous year.

Treating him a bit like Garrett Crochet in the second half would be a good idea.  Let's not forget Davis Martin is coming off TJS as well.

Bryse Wilson and Perez can just eat innings at the back end until they're traded OR guys like Thorpe Iriarte Nastrini Adams and Owen White push them aside by earning spots.

(Let's hope not Clevinger.)

Good thing we listened to the fans tweeting immediately after his first outing that they were done with him. Ready to send him back 

https://brewerfanatic.com/news-rumors/milwaukee-brewers/did-the-brewers-make-an-unforced-roster-management-error-in-the-rule-5-draft-r2878/

 

"Shane Smith made his mark since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He broke out in 2023, becoming Brewer Fanatic’s Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year that season, then was fourth in the voting for Brewer Fanatic’s Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year in 2024. With honors like that, it’s quite surprising that he was available for the Rule 5 draft, where the White Sox made him the first overall pick. The Brewers received $100,000 for Smith, who must remain on the White Sox roster for the 2025 season or be offered back for $50,000."

Edited March 9, 20251 yr by caulfield12

19 minutes ago, mac9001 said:

Not sure Wilson becomes much of a trade asset if you let him start.

Ouch, you’re right.  I just looked at his splits as a starter versus reliever.  His few good starts for the Brewers in 2023 apparently weren’t the norm.

On the Sox Machine Podcast Thursday, debate opened up on whether new White Sox fifth starter candidate Bryse Wilson is the next Chris Flexen or the next Michael Soroka.

He’s aiming more for the next (former Brewer in) Wade Miley.

“I’ve been talking a lot with Wade Miley the last couple of years,” Wilson said of his former Brewers teammate. “He’s made a very good career on cutters up and in to righties and changeups down and away.”

https://soxmachine.com/2024/12/bryse-wilson-matt-thaiss-looking-to-establish-themselves-as-reliable-veterans-on-a-white-sox-team-in-need/

Edited March 9, 20251 yr by caulfield12

10 minutes ago, Fielder Jones said:

Good thing we listened to the fans tweeting immediately after his first outing that they were done with him. Ready to send him back 

He sucked in his first outing.  He couldn’t find the strike zone.  But no one said to send a Rule 5 draft pick back.  He cost only $100K and just needs to last on the Sox terrible roster for 90 days I believe.  It would be stupid not to try.

19 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

He sucked in his first outing.  He couldn’t find the strike zone.  But no one said to send a Rule 5 draft pick back.  He cost only $100K and just needs to last on the Sox terrible roster for 90 days I believe.  It would be stupid not to try.

Finally, Getz has something other than the Crochet trade to crow about...via the McKinven coaching addition.

(Not exactly sure what that Green Beret consultant dude is doing now, though.)

"Side note @ James Fegan— you’ve a quote from Smith in your article on him where he mentions a throwing bullet-style slider after a cutter. Regarding terminology/spring Statcast confusion— is that bullet slider a fifth pitch that he is actively working on, but hasn’t thrown in games so far? Thanks!"

soxmachine.com

there's also the split/fork change up in his arsenal

Well guys, Caulfield has glommed, we have a 9:6 ratio here and it’s climbing.  Good luck Shane

37 minutes ago, Kyyle23 said:

Well guys, Caulfield has glommed, we have a 9:6 ratio here and it’s climbing.  Good luck Shane

Sox fans are entitled to hope for something more exciting than the latest reiteration of Dylan Covey, Chris Flexen, Clevinger, etc.

Tried to do it with Kyle Hurt, but he signed elsewhere.

At any rate, might as well stake a position on someone outside of the Big 3...like a much maligned poster did with Giolito in his darkest days in 2017-18.

I mean...it's already been 13 long years since another kid from the Yankees/Mets (no prior big league experience) history showed up and started dealing...in Jose Quintana of Colombia.

While Shane Smith might eventually end up much closer to Hector Santiago in impact...it's always fun to root for a true underdog story, an undrafted free agent (udfa)

Edited March 9, 20251 yr by caulfield12

9-7...10-7...climbing like the prevailing positivity now taking hold at Soxtalk...for at least 24 hours we can dream on Shane  Smith and Grant Taylor.

Edited March 9, 20251 yr by caulfield12

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

 

While Shane Smith might eventually end up much closer to Hector Santiago in impact...it's always fun to root for a true underdog story, an undrafted free agent (udfa)

Hector Santiago"s impact on the organization was massive, which we are still seeing the fruits of today.

Having put up a strong 4.2 WAR over 221 innings of work with Sox, traded for Eaton, who of course in initial three year stint put up over 15 WAR

Eaton then traded for Giolito, Lopez and Dunning.

Dunning for Lynn

Giolito and Lopez packaged for Edgar Quero and Ky Bush

Lynn also packaged with Kelly for Leasure and Nastrini. 

So sox got directly from Santiago individual seasons of 2.7, 5.2, 4.6, 6.1,5.4, 4.3, 2.9, 5.5, a current top 50ish prospect, along with at least partially some of our current young albeit borderline pitching depth.

Not too shabby for a 30th round pick from 19 years ago

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a 93 win division championship season in which three pitchers acquired directly from the root of Hector Santiago combined for ten and half war and still have a top 50 prospect today to show for him

Edited March 9, 20251 yr by 46DidIt

15 hours ago, Fielder Jones said:

Good thing we listened to the fans tweeting immediately after his first outing that they were done with him. Ready to send him back 

Meatballs relegated to season in review ST game threads I assume.

The World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers took 20 swings at Shane Smith yesterday and had just a single to show for it. pic.twitter.com/6nCMZP8L4v

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) March 9, 2025

6 hours ago, 46DidIt said:

Hector Santiago"s impact on the organization was massive, which we are still seeing the fruits of today.

Having put up a strong 4.2 WAR over 221 innings of work with Sox, traded for Eaton, who of course in initial three year stint put up over 15 WAR

Eaton then traded for Giolito, Lopez and Dunning.

Dunning for Lynn

Giolito and Lopez packaged for Edgar Quero and Ky Bush

Lynn also packaged with Kelly for Leasure and Nastrini. 

So sox got directly from Santiago individual seasons of 2.7, 5.2, 4.6, 6.1,5.4, 4.3, 2.9, 5.5, a current top 50ish prospect, along with at least partially some of our current young albeit borderline pitching depth.

Not too shabby for a 30th round pick from 19 years ago

 

 

That's quite the chain, 19 years and counting.  I wonder what the longest running chain is in MLB?

Good to see them starting the Saint.  

The only two pitchers this spring to give up no more than a single on 15+ swings in a game against the Dodgers are Shane Smith and Davis Martin (with 20 each!). pic.twitter.com/VQnJrUcOE5

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) March 9, 2025

Shane Smith's legs look like tree trunks. Dude has some muscle.