GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Shane Smith's ascension to Opening Day starter for the 2026 White Sox is a tale of excellence.
It’s also a tale of perseverance and never giving up on dreams.
“What a lesson for all of us, for players or future players,” general manager Chris Getz told MLB.com prior to Monday afternoon’s Cactus League contest against the Rockies at Camelback Ranch. “When you really stay determined, put your mind toward something and you accomplish it, what a reward.
“In this case, we talk about Shane and what he’s been through but how we acquired him and the year he had last year. Now, getting a chance to get an Opening Day start, of course against the team he was with prior, all the better. Emotional for all of us, no more than Shane himself.”
Getz was in manager Will Venable’s office on Sunday morning, along with pitching coach Zach Bove, assistant pitching coach Bobby Hearn and bullpen coach Matt Wise, when Smith received the news. Smith put his hand to his eyes to wipe away emotion, which shows how much this moment meant for a stoic competitor who isn’t overly boisterous on or off the mound.
Sean Burke was the Opening Day starter in 2025, with Smith becoming the fifth White Sox hurler earning the Day 1 honors in the last five seasons. Burke also pitched in front of 53,536 at Dodger Stadium on July 2, when Clayton Kershaw recorded his 3,000th career strikeout.
In that playoff-like atmosphere, Burke entered in the second inning, gave up a first-pitch home run to Andy Pages and allowed nothing else over six innings. Yet, the Opening Day nod, where Burke hurled six scoreless against the Angels in an 8-1 victory, still means the most within his burgeoning young career.
That experience at Rate Field also qualifies Burke to hand out some advice to Smith, whose locker sits next to him in the White Sox clubhouse.
“Enjoy it,” Burke told MLB.com. “There are so many good pitchers, All-Star pitchers, guys who have pitched in the league for a long time, who never get the chance to do that. That’s one of the biggest honors you can have in this game.
“Try to treat it like a normal game and every other game. But it’s not. You get a little amped up for it. Just try to enjoy the moment. And take it all in.”
Hearn being part of the Opening Day announcement became a full-circle moment with Smith. The duo played together one year at Wake Forest, although Smith battled injuries throughout his collegiate time, leaving him undrafted following seven Demon Deacon appearances in total ending with the 2021 season.
Smith went from an unknown Minor League free agent signee by the Brewers to the top pick in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft to the White Sox lone ‘25 All-Star to the top of their ‘26 rotation. But Smith’s journey began long before the Rule 5, in his estimation.
“Since I graduated high school, my baseball career has never been the same,” Smith said. “I have never been on any prospect list, Top 30 prospect for any team. That just tells me those things aren’t as important. What you do on a daily basis and how you treat people around you is a better identifier of who you are as a baseball player than anything.”
“We both had our ups and downs in college,” Hearn said on Monday. “He had a really tough couple of years with injuries, going down with the shoulder and then the elbow, actually after. Cool to see him persevere.”
While this official announcement arrived via White Sox social media Sunday morning, Smith was thought to be the clubhouse favorite as far back as SoxFest Live at the end of January. The goal for Smith is to put up 31 or 32 starts after he takes the mound on March 26 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, but there’s something special about setting the season’s tone for his team.
“I’m sure he’ll kill it like he did for most of last year,” said Burke, who knew Smith as far back as their high school days in the Boston area.
“I know he’s looking forward to finishing Spring Training to best position himself for that Opening Day nod,” said Getz, with Smith scheduled to work four innings on Tuesday vs. the Athletics in Mesa.
“Super intense, very direct guy. But also really good heart, extremely genuine person,” Hearn added. We joke about it, some of the intensity sometimes it’s fun. He comes to the yard with that intensity, he attacks his work days with that same fervor. It’s just a part of who he is.”