Hagen

Smith

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.

Smith also walked three, so he was unable to complete five innings yet again, but he did throw 92 pitches in this outing, which is the most he’s ever thrown in pro ball. In his last three starts, Smith has allowed three runs on nine hits in 14 innings while striking out 25 and walking six. He has only completed five innings in one of those starts, so efficiency and command remain key issues for the 22-year-old, but he seems to be starting to round into form.

Smith also struck out nine and walked just two on the day. His pure raw stuff was impressive, but he threw 55 of his 89 pitches for strikes and needed almost 90 pitches to get 13 outs. Some of that is the result of him looking for, and getting whiffs, which led to longer counts and strikeouts. However, Smith has also struggled with his command at times this season. The fifth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft has plenty of upside but still has some work to do at Triple-A.

Smith’s command was a real issue here, throwing just 30 of his 62 pitches for strikes. He also sat 95.2 mph on his four-seam fastball and was down to 93.3 mph in the third inning. His slider was also over three mph slower by the third inning. Perhaps he was just struggling to get loose today, but this was a rough performance from the fifth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Smith is the notable inclusion here after an impressive Cactus League outings against the division-rival Royals over the weekend where he struck out five over two scoreless innings. The 22-year-old southpaw projects as an impactful fantasy contributor once he reaches the majors based on his stratospheric strikeouts rates throughout his career.

Smith, the fifth-overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, handed out one walk and needed just 30 pitches (18 strikes) to spin a pair of frames in this one. The 22-year-old lefty profiles as an impact fantasy arm once he ascends to the majors based on his sky-high strikeout rates. He’ll gain some additional seasoning in the upper minors to open the year but there’s a chance he reaches the big leagues at some point in the second half.

The fifth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Smith posted a 2.57 ERA and .143 BAA with 21 strikeouts over 14 innings in AFL action. Some elbow soreness and mechanical issues limited Smith’s workload in 2025, but his talent was on full display in Arizona. He should begin the season in Double-A, but could emerge as an option for the White Sox in the second half if he pitches well enough.

The fifth overall selection in the 2024 MLB Draft was limited to just 20 starts this past season at Double-A Birmingham due to elbow soreness and mechanical issues that resulted in massive command problems. He’s posted a strong 16/5 K/BB ratio across nine innings over three starts this fall. The 22-year-old southpaw was a strikeout machine during his final collegiate season at Arkansas where he set a Division I record with 17.3 strikeouts per nine innings. His premium fastball velocity and deadly slider will give him immediate fantasy relevance once he reaches the big leagues. It’ll be his ability to command his formidable stuff that’ll determine how high his fantasy ceiling extends.