Following a historic 41-121 season in which the Chicago White Sox lost the most games ever in a single year, change was needed. This included trading away their ace of the season, Garrett Crochet, to the Boston Red Sox for a multitude of prospects. Doing this then left a void, and the White Sox needed an ace for their staff for the future. Shane Smith has sufficed for now, posting a 2.45 ERA in 12 starts so far this year. However, there are two White Sox prospects in their farm system ready to take over.

White Sox Prospects Hoping to Become Key Part of Rotation
2022 Draftee Climbing the Ranks

After an impressive summer league season, posting a 0.93 ERA over six starts, Noah Schultz climbed the draft ladder. This led the White Sox to take him 26th overall in the 2022 MLB draft. The now 6’10” lefty features a low three-quarter arm slot that makes it difficult for hitters to pick up pitches. His arsenal features a mid-90s fastball, a mid-80s wipeout slider, and an upper-80s changeup that fades opposite the slider. These factors have allowed him to pitch to a 2.54 ERA in his minor league career so far at three different levels.

MLB’s No. 1 LHP prospect Noah Schultz (@whitesox) racks up a season-high 7 punchouts for the Double-A @BhamBarons 🔥

5 IP | 5 H | 1 R | 1 BB | 7 K pic.twitter.com/k1DKaGBfUF

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 14, 2025

So far in 2025, Schultz has pitched 51 innings to a 3.71 ERA for the Double-A Birmingham Barons. This is in part due to his inability to get batters out this year, as opponents are hitting .279 off the lefty. This is after posting back-to-back seasons keeping hitters under a .200 average. Another is the command issue, as in those 51 innings, he has walked 31 batters, up from the 24 he walked all of last year. These factors combined give him a 1.647 WHIP for the season so far. Despite this, Schultz should still see major league action by the end of the year if he stays healthy.

Razorback Turned White Sox Prospect

Soon after tying a Texas prep record of seven no-hitters in 2021, lefty Hagen Smith had his sights set on Arkansas baseball. After two mediocre years, Smith went into the 2024 season needing a good one. In 16 starts, he posted a 2.04 ERA in 84 innings, allowing only 41 hits. Not only that, but the southpaw set an NCAA Division I record with 17.3 K/9, striking out 161 batters. Additionally, he led the nation in opponent average, holding batters to a staggering .144 average. This success skyrocketed him to be the fifth overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft by the White Sox. His success is in part due to his low release point and funky delivery to create deception.

These factors allow for his three-pitch arsenal featuring a mid-90s fastball, high-80s splitter, and his best pitch being a devastating slider that works against both righties and lefties. Because of that, he has posted a 2.10 ERA in seven starts at the Double-A level so far. This includes 42 strikeouts in only 25 2/3 innings pitched, holding opponents to a .133 average. However, similar to Schultz, Smith has struggled to control the ball, walking 20 batters thus far. While it is unlikely we see him in 2025, it could be a possibility that he makes the 2026 Opening Day roster for the White Sox.

Where the White Sox Go from Here

With a 22-44 record thus far, the White Sox seem poised for another rebuild year. However, with their track record of developing starting pitchers with the likes of Chris Sale, Carlos Rodón, Dylan Cease, and Garrett Crochet, it gives hope to those prospects in the wait. If Schultz and Smith are the next to follow in this line of succession, they could very well be among the league’s best in the coming years.