Blake

Smith

Smith was selected away from the White Sox in last December’s Rule 5 Draft, but the Padres wound up returning him. And now he’ll get a couple of relief appearances at the major league level down the stretch.

The 29-year-old right-hander spent most of the 2016 season at Triple-A Charlotte where he posted a 3.53 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 75/24 K/BB ratio over 71 1/3 innings. With a strong showing in the spring, he could compete for a spot in the club’s Opening Day bullpen.

The 28-year-old right-hander appeared in just five games for the big league club in 2016, compiling a 6.23 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 1/0 K/BB ratio in 4 1/3 innings. He’ll likely have to settle for a minor league deal with a spring training invite elsewhere.

A former outfielder that has been converted to the bullpen, the 27-year-old owns a 1.62 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 16/9 K/BB ratio in 16 2/3 innings at Double-A Tulsa. He’ll provide organizational bullpen depth for the White Sox.

He was passed over by every major league team before the Friars got a second shot at him. Smith, 28, registered a 2.89 ERA and 64/27 K/BB ratio in 53 innings this past season between Double-A and Triple-A. He is unlikely to make San Diego’s major league roster next spring.

The Rule 5 pick struck out nine over 7 2/3 innings this spring but posted a 5.87 ERA. He’ll begin the season back at Triple-A Charlotte.

Smith was a big disappointment in the Pioneer League last year, coming in at .212/.311/.308 with 38 strikeouts in 30 games. As a 22-year-old corner outfielder, he’ll have to tear up Midwest League pitching in order to be taken seriously as a prospect. Ideally, he’d be ready for the challenge of high-A ball by midseason.