After a historically bad season, the Chicago White Sox held the first overall pick in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft. They did opt to utilize that pick, and with it, the team selected right-handed pitcher Shane Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers organization.
Smith, who will turn 25 early in the 2025 season, is not ranked among the Brewers’ top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline. However, he was viewed as one of the top available players due to his success in the upper minors and his willingness to work both in the rotation and out of the bullpen. At 6’4″ and 235 lbs, he is an imposing presence on the mound.
After Smith missed his final collegiate season due to an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, he signed with the Brewers after going undrafted in the 2021 MLB draft. Since then, he has been successful at every stop in his minor league path, holding a career 2.69 ERA. In 2024, he pitched mostly at the Double-A level, logging 87.2 innings through 16 starts and 11 relief appearances. Through that stint, he held a 3.08 ERA with an impressive 4.08 K/BB rate to earn himself a promotion to Triple-A, where he pitched solely out of the bullpen at close out the season.
The big right-hander typically sits in the mid-90s with his fastball but can reach 97-98 mph when he wants to. He also utilizes a solid curveball that sits in the low 80s with which he misses plenty of bats and can even mix in a cutter. His command seemed to improve through the 2024 season but overall is viewed by scouts as a bit shaky.
Although the White Sox may allow Smith to compete for a spot in their rotation, it is more likely that he will be given a bullpen role this season. It’s a better fit for him, as his stuff should play up as a reliever, and he could cover multiple innings when needed.
With their selection of Smith, the White Sox owe the Brewers $100,000 to acquire him. If they decide to not keep him on the roster, they must offer him back to the Brewers for $50,000 before outrighting him to their minor league system.
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