Hagen Smith pitches two innings in loss vs. Royals

Smith was universally regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, but he’s outperformed even the most lofty expectations, posting a microscopic 0.41 ERA and 32/10 K/BB ratio across 22 innings since being called up in mid-August. The 23-year-old southpaw continues to excel in relief and has looked like a true late-inning weapon for the upstart White Sox.

Smith threw three innings for the first time in a scoreless outing Sunday against the Pirates, but that only took him 35 pitches. His high pitch count as a major leaguer was 48 over two innings in his debut on Aug. 9. So, one imagines the White Sox will be very happy if he can get through three again Thursday, Two is probably the better bet. Erick Fedde will be available to go long behind him.

Bryan Hudson, Jordan Hicks, Smith, Grant Taylor and Tyler Davis combined to limit the Twins to one run and strike out 15 batters. Smith got four of the strikeouts in his longest major league outing to date. It was surprising to see him pitch a third inning, given that he just threw two innings on Friday, but he was quite efficient in throwing 35 pitches. In part because of Smith’s success, José Urquidy never pitched in the game, though he probably would have if the White Sox had known they’d score eight runs between the sixth and the eighth to turn it into a rout.

Smith, who was selected fifth overall in 2024, got the call with the White Sox in need of some fresh arms this weekend. The southpaw came in handy after a lengthy rain delay interrupted Davis Martin’s start. Smith threw just 25 out of his 49 pitches for strikes, so the control was shaky, but he also didn’t allow a hit and struck out three. Smith is unlikely to provide fantasy value in the short-term, but it was a memorable debut for the 22-year-old.

Smith is ostensibly up with Chicago as emergency long relief depth behind veteran starters Anthony Kay and Davis Martin for the remainder of their weekend against the Guardians after a mistake by manager Will Venable forced Noah Schultz to exit after just 23 pitches on Friday night. The 22-year-old southpaw was selected fifth overall in the 2024 MLB Draft and misses bats at an incredible rate, thanks to a wicked slider that comes at hitters from a three-quarters arm slot. He remains a project from a mechanics and arsenal development standpoint, which leaves some questions regarding his ultimate role. He misses enough bats to matter for fantasy purposes, whether he sticks as a starter or winds up in the bullpen down the road. His odds of making a significant fantasy impact right away are extremely long.

Noah Schultz and David Sandlin will both be sent down. This is more about having fresh arms available than anything to do with performance, but Smith and McDougal are among the team’s best prospects. Smith, the fifth overall pick in the 2024 draft, was moved to the bullpen at Triple-A Charlotte earlier this month and has since pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings in five appearances.

The White Sox’s fifth overall pick from the 2024 MLB Draft, Smith had been sidelined with a shoulder impingement but returned last Monday and has now made two appearances at Triple-A since. His fastball velocity was up to 97 mph, and he looked healthy on Friday. James Fox of Future Sox reports that Smith is expected to finish this season as a member of the White Sox bullpen and then compete for a starting spot in 2027.

Smith also threw one inning of relief on Sunday, allowing one run on one hit in one inning while walking three and striking out two. Three walks while coming off a month’s absence for a shoulder impingement is not the best sign. Hopefully it’s just some rust that needs to be shaken off.

The plan is for Smith to not throw for multiple weeks, and then to spend two more weeks ramping up before returning to game action. The 22-year-old will be out at least a month, but obviously something involving the shoulder with a pitcher could lead to a lengthier absence if there’s even a hint of a setback.

Levine mentioned that White Sox manager Will Venable said Smith is “one of the team’s options” for Saturday against the Dodgers. It would certainly be a tough first test for Smith, who was the fifth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. The left-hander has back-to-back Triple-A outings with nine strikeouts and just threw 92 pitches in his last outing, which was his most ever in a professional game. His strikeout upside is immense, with 72 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings at Triple-A this season, but he also has 33 walks and posted a 17.6 percent walk rate last year as well. That has made it hard for him to pitch deep into games and could limit his fantasy ceiling in redraft formats.