White Sox’s Shane Smith, Edgar Quero ‘suck right now,’ seek to regain rookie form originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Shane Smith and Edgar Quero, two cornerstones of the Chicago White Sox’s prolonged rebuild, remained honest regarding their early-season production.

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“Everybody knows I suck right now,” Quero said, as reported by MLB.com. “I’m not afraid to say it.”

Quero went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts during Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Rate Field. The catcher’s batting average remains flatlined at .148.

Smith, who started and posted a unique MLB pitching line, absorbed some of the blame. In 3.2 innings, he allowed one hit and zero earned runs while posting eight strikeouts and five bases on balls.

No other pitcher in league history previously duplicated Smith’s outing.

“Not really putting our team in a good position to win,” said Smith, who lowered his three-start earned-run average to 10.80. “Just killing our bullpen.

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“Not being able to get past 3 2/3 (innings) in the first (three) starts, it puts you in a tough spot.”

White Sox’s two young stars struggling

Quero and Smith seek to regain their rookie forms.

The 23-year-old catcher has yet to produce an extra-base hit or an RBI during his opening 27 at-bats this season. Last season, Quero hit .268 with five home runs and 36 RBI in 111 games.

I’m working every day, trying to work hard, trying to come back,” Quero said.

The 26-year-old pitcher dropped his opening two starts this season, lasting just 4.2 innings combined. In 2025, Smith went 7-8 with a 3.81 ERA in 29 starts in 2025. He yielded just 117 hits in 146.1 innings.

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“You don’t want to be the anchor with any staff or on any team,” Smith said. “I’m just trying to do well so we can win some ballgames.

“Not giving up any runs is a step in the right direction for sure. Walking five probably isn’t.”

The White Sox (4-7) likely need the young battery to regain its first-year spark for the franchise to rise out of fifth place in the AL Central anytime soon.