Sox prospects Schultz, Smith hope offseason work pays off with MLB debuts in '26

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- White Sox fans hoping for the arrival of left-handers Noah Schultz, the No. 49 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, and Hagen Smith (No. 72) shouldn’t have to wait much longer.

In fact, the 22-year-old Schultz isn’t dismissing the possibility of breaking camp with the South Siders for his Major League debut.

“I think that they have a plan and everything, but I’m excited and going to go out every day with the hope of that,” Schultz told MLB.com on Tuesday morning with pitchers and catchers officially reporting to the team’s facility at Camelback Ranch.

Schultz’s hope certainly wouldn’t qualify as a prediction, but the best-case scenario plays out a little easier when you truly believe.

Both southpaws had uneven 2025 campaigns within the White Sox system, by their own admission. But both worked diligently this offseason to put themselves in the best place possible for the 2026 season. Schultz’s work covered three months at the Boras Sports Training Institute in Miami, while Smith was at home in Tyler, Texas.

Smith, 22, placed a focus on his changeup, a key pitch in his overall repertoire.

“I’m really just trying to work on the mechanics and kind of figure out when I was going good, what I was doing,” Smith said. “Kind of looked at the video and stuff like that. Really hammered away on the changeup.”

For Schultz, it was studying ways to be more athletic.

“It's about my body and regulating my body. I’m really happy with the progress we made,” Schultz said. “There were a lot of things just rounding out the body. A lot of stuff I don’t want to say I haven’t done before, but a lot of stuff was good to learn about early and attack most of the offseason.”

Opposing hitters didn’t have much fun facing Smith in 2025, as he posted a .166 average against with 42 hits yielded and 108 strikeouts recorded in 75 2/3 innings for Double-A Birmingham. His control wasn’t as sharp -- he walked 56 -- possibly factoring into his final 3.57 ERA.

In his first playoff outing against Chattanooga, Smith threw five no-hit innings, with two hits allowed and 10 strikeouts. He followed up his postseason excellence by striking out 21 against six walks over five starts (14 innings) for Glendale in the Arizona Fall League.

Dominance clearly is there. Part of Smith’s development process will be finding it consistently.

“I was very inconsistent last year. Some outings were good, some outings were bad. But I’m just excited for this season,” Smith said. “I was getting a little rushed with my lower half last year, trying to work through things throughout the week and also trying to keep my body in shape for the next outing. But I felt like I hammered it this offseason.

“Obviously, people have expectations, but I have certain expectations. I hold myself to a high standard. I didn’t meet that last year. This year I hope I will.”

Patellar tendinitis in his right knee slowed Schultz in 2025, and he made his final start for Triple-A Charlotte on Aug. 30. The knee feels great now; he had physical therapy during the offseason and learned what’s necessary to take care of his entire body aside from arm and shoulder work.

Schultz recorded a 9.37 ERA over five starts for Charlotte and an overall 4.68 ERA between stops with the Knights and Barons, fanning 76 in 73 innings. He won’t make any injury excuses, looking at his previous effort as having ups and downs but also as a learning experience.

“At the end of the day, it’s development. It’s a long plan,” Schultz said. “Instead of focusing more on specific game-by-game numbers, you look at the progress of who I am as a pitcher.

“It’s frustrating, and that shows you really care about it. You want to become the best player you can. Those are good things, they come along the way. It’s good to be able to handle them.”

They’ve been handled with an eye toward a 2026 debut. If not in March or April for Schultz and Smith, then shortly thereafter.

“You have to have goals to always have something to stride toward,” Schultz said. “It’s always on the radar.”

“I’m not going to set any expectations,” Smith said. “Go out there and compete, that’s all I’m going to do.”