CHICAGO -- The Major League debut of Noah Schultz -- the No. 2 White Sox prospect and No. 44 overall per MLB Pipeline -- took most of Tuesday’s focus in the contest against the Rays. And rightfully so.
But general manager Chris Getz also addressed a number of pregame questions concerning Shane Smith, who was the organization’s lone ‘25 All-Star and the ‘26 Opening Day starter on March 26 in Milwaukee. After three big league starts where Smith struggled with fastball command, despite striking out eight against five walks in his last effort against Baltimore on April 7, the right-hander was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on April 8.
Getz was on a scouting trip immediately after the move, and spoke for the first time Tuesday of how Smith handled the decision.
“He was a pro. He was,” Getz said. “He was very open that what he’s been doing is not good enough. Beyond just Shane himself, how it affects the team and the bullpen. And so when you kind of paint that picture and talk it through, have that dialogue, he was disappointed of course.
“It was very clear he was ready to get to work. He's gone down there and he’s dialed into his work and focused on the improvement that’s needed.”
Over those three starts with the White Sox, Smith had a 10.80 ERA while allowing 12 hits and nine walks against 11 strikeouts in just 8 1/3 innings. These issues came after the 26-year-old topped the ‘25 team in innings pitched and strikeouts.
Schultz seems to slide into Smith’s rotation spot, with Davis Martin, Sean Burke, Anthony Kay and Erick Fedde holding strong at a successful level as the White Sox starters. So for now, Smith’s focus is getting right in Charlotte.
Against Memphis on Sunday, in his first Charlotte start, Smith yielded three runs in the first but settled in to give up no more over four innings. He struck out five and most importantly, walked one, with manager Will Venable able to watch Smith during his team’s three-hour rain delay in Kansas City.
“Early on there had a couple of those yanked fastballs that we saw,” Venable said. “But did a really nice job of settling down and getting better command of the four-seam fastball. So a really good one for him to continue to build on. Positive reports.”
Smith did a great deal of work pregame in the bullpen Sunday before even taking the mound, according to Getz.
“I don’t know precisely how many pitches he had thrown,” Getz said. “It was [as] much about getting the proper work in for the day [as it was about] the game itself. It did translate into the game and there were positive signs. There’s a very specific plan both to help his delivery, get his pitch shapes back to where they have been in the past.”
Charlotte pitching coach Scott Aldred, senior advisor to pitching Brian Bannister, White Sox pitching coach Zach Bove and pitching coordinator Matt Zaleski are all involved with getting Smith back on track and back to the White Sox. He’s also getting support from his White Sox teammates, who understand the ups and downs of baseball even for those operating at a high level.
“Just in the few days, he’s already handling it really well,” said assistant pitching coach Bobby Hearn, who pitched one year with Smith at Wake Forest. “Making a couple of adjustments just in usages and working on getting his fastball back. He’s a tough kid. Went through a rough patch. I wish we could have got it back on track sooner. That’s how all of us feel, but we are very confident that he’s going about it in the right way.”
“This is eating him up more than anybody else,” said Martin of his friend. “Sox fans want him to be great, we need him to be great. I still think we need him to be great to be a good team. It’s only a matter of time until things start clicking and we see the same Shane as last year. I have no doubt in my mind that we are going to see that version at some point this year.”