I can't believe I'm writing this post, but given the Teel injury, does Boston Smith deserve a shot in the big leagues? It would be a heck of a story a guy going from Class A Kannapolis to MLB roster. However, Romo and Quero are not exactly tearing it up.

Smith is twenty-three years old so this is not like rushing a 19-year-old up to Pro Ball. A little bit more about Smith, 2026 year below: he was just called up to AA ball, so the sample size is very small; however, he has torn it up so far.

Now, I'm not advocating it right now, but if he continues to scorch the ball in August, I would bring him up. Guys like this are a little like house money. I feel like he has higher upside than anybody in the organization at catcher beyond Teel.

The one thing I don't know is his defense. Obviously, being a catcher, there is a lot to the position.

Thoughts? Am I just being irrationally reactionary?

Edited 21 hours ago21 hr by kwill

Did a little Google stalking and Boston Smith is as unique as his name. He is a good enough athlete that during his Junior year, he was Wright State’s starting shortstop. Apparently the team had other catchers. He isn’t super experienced at catcher, but he’s plenty athletic for the position. He’s new to calling games, so it would be a stretch to see him catch in the majors any time soon. He’s always hit though, so his bat has a chance of outpacing his glove since he can play left as well. Currently rocking a .500 ISO, which would make him a HoF. That’s gonna come down, but he had a .300 ISO in W-S. He’s one of those pop up guys who just has to prove it at every level, Ala Romy Gonzalez, but there’s a good chance Boston Smith is a dude.

He's nowhere near ready to catch in the bigs, considering he's hardly caught at all. Wasn't behind the plate until his senior year IIRC, and has only played ~40 games there in the minors this year.

Not too late for Greg’s Tim Anderson plan…

I’ve wondered about Turner getting a shot. Need a 40 man but could drop Romo or something

Prospect #84

Ninth-round choice in 2022, University of Arkansas catcher Michael Turner, is an older prospect, but brings a solid set of skills to the White Sox: solid lefty bat, good defense, receiving and arm. Turner is also a "bit of a hoss," so there could be some James McCann upside.

With what is potentially about to happen with guys from the 60 day IL, we aren't adding another catcher to the 40.

2 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

With what is potentially about to happen with guys from the 60 day IL, we aren't adding another catcher to the 40.

They would DFA Romo to open the spot.

Zero chance this kid is called up. Fun story, but he's at least another 300 PA away in the high minors. If he continues to rake you bring him into spring training to get a better look at his everyday catching and go from there.

I'd imagine Lee is the call for now, maybe we make a trade at the deadline depending on what's up with Teal. Best case I think it's probably a bad ankle sprain so 6-8 weeks. He'd be back for the playoff push but yea.

Teal's season reminds me a bit of the Rose year he tore his ACL. We didn't have a lockout compressed schedule this season but like Rose Teal had a series of minor injuries in season and it just felt off the entire way. Hopefully Teal avoided a season ender.

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by chitownsportsfan

He might be able to hit in the bigs soon; not sure about his catching, but I would doubt he's anywhere ready, if really a pro catcher at all.

Smith considers himself a natural catcher, even if he's often found himself at other positions due to decent speed. It wasn't until his senior season at Wright State where he was the Raiders' primary catcher. Up until that point, he'd played more left field and infield, including 10 games at shortstop in 2024, in order to get his bat in the lineup while accommodating catchers who couldn't play elsewhere ("It wasn't the prettiest thing in the world," Smith said of his middle infield work).

The White Sox have thus far narrowed the demands on Smith's athleticism. He's made 36 of 60 starts at catcher, rotating only between left field and DH otherwise to keep the plate appearances coming. He said game-calling is the most challenging part of pro catching, because even if he had more reps behind the plate in college, the pitch calls were still coming from the dugout.

"He doesn't have a ton of experience behind the plate, but in talking with him, it's something that he wants to work at, he's going to dive into," said Birmingham manager Pat Leyland. "Our coaches here -- [Daniel] Millwee with the catchers, John Kovalik with the pitchers -- they game-plan extremely hard and well. They can definitely help him out, and he's willing to be helped, and he wants to be helped."

By any name, Boston Smith is making impression, impact in...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In order to start making a name for himself, Boston Smith first considered the name for himself. His actual first name is Noah, but as he explored playing baseball beyond high schoo