CHICAGO - Chicago White Sox rookie right-handed pitcher Shane Smith has been selected by the players as an American League reserve at the 2025 MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, to be played on July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Smith, 25, entered today’s start at Colorado with a 3-6 record, 3.86 ERA (34 ER/79.1 IP) and 74 strikeouts over 16 starts this season, his first in the major leagues. Entering today’s games, he ranks among the MLB rookie leaders (minimum 50.0 IP) in strikeouts (3rd), opponents average (4th, .231), starts (4th), IP (4th) and ERA (5th). Smith was selected by the White Sox with the first overall pick in 2024 MLB Rule 5 Draft.
Some notable information regarding Smith’s season to date and his first career All-Star selection:
- Is one of two rookies (Athletics’ Jacob Wilson) to be named to a 2025 All-Star roster and one of 19 players earning their first All-Star selection;
- Becomes the first rookie pitcher in White Sox history to be selected to an All-Star Team … he is the seventh Sox rookie to be named an All-Star and the first since first baseman José Abreu in 2014;
- Joins Florida’s second baseman Dan Uggla in 2006 as the only players in MLB history to make an All-Star Team in the year following his Rule 5 selection;
- Went 3-3 with a 2.37 ERA (18 ER/68.1 IP), .212 (53-250) opponents average and 1.17 WHIP over his first 13 career starts … his 2.37 ERA during that stretch was the fourth-lowest since 1950 by Sox pitcher over their first 13 career starts;
- Entered today’s start on pace to record 135 strikeouts, which would tie Jim Scott (1909) for the fifth-highest total in Sox history by a rookie;
- Did not allow more than three earned runs in any of his first 13 starts;
- Made his major-league debut on April 1 vs. Minnesota, receiving a no decision after allowing two runs on two hits with four walks and three strikeouts over 5.1 IP … fanned Carlos Correa for his first career strikeout;
- In his second career start on April 8 at Cleveland, became the fifth White Sox pitcher since 1974 to throw a no-hit bid of 5.0 IP or more in one of his first two career starts … finish the game with a career-high 6.0 scoreless IP;
- Earned his first career win on April 24 at Minnesota, tossing 5.0 scoreless IP with a career-high seven strikeouts … also struck out seven batters over 6.0 scoreless IP on May 10 vs. Miami;
- Along with Sean Burke, Mike Vasil and Grant Taylor, became the first set of rookies to start four straight games (June 17-20) for the Sox since September 20-23, 1922 when Ted Blankenship, Charlie Robertson, Frank Mack and Dixie Leverett also started four in a row.