\u201cWe know they\u2019re getting closer, just want to make sure they\u2019re establishing all the things in the weight room, in the training room and that we\u2019re able to support their continued growth knowing that they\u2019re going to be coming here at some point,\u201d manager Will Venable said of Smith and Schultz on Tuesday. \u201cWhen that is, we\u2019ll see but really just about establishing the foundation for them to carry their performance throughout the year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Column: Spring training renews optimism for the Cubs and White Sox \u2014 no matter where you\u2019re watching<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Smith, 22, went 3-3 with a 3.57 ERA in 20 starts for Double-A Birmingham last season. He had 108 strikeouts and 56 walks in 75 2\/3 innings. Smith also participated in the Arizona Fall League, compiling a 2.57 ERA, 21 strikeouts and six walks in 14 innings over five starts. He recently was ranked the No. 72 prospect in baseball by MLB.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like I got a lot better this offseason and I want to prove it,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n Schultz, 22, went 4-5 with a 4.68 ERA in 17 starts between Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. The Oswego East product had 76 strikeouts in 73 innings. MLB.com ranked Schultz as the No. 49 prospect in baseball.<\/p>\n Schultz said he has a ton of goals for the season, with staying healthy the top priority. Overall, Schultz is focused on \u201cgetting better every day, getting 1% better.\u201d<\/p>\n This is the second spring invite for Schultz and Smith. Going through the process last year was helpful.<\/p>\n \u201cLast year was new,\u201d Schultz said Tuesday. \u201cIt\u2019s cool a lot of the guys are returning, it\u2019s good to see them.\u201d<\/p>\n This spring, the Sox want to see the two continue to build up.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, they\u2019re going to start most likely in Triple A, and so we want to make sure that they\u2019re on their path,\u201d Venable said Wednesday. \u201cHagen is a little bit behind because of the Fall League \u2014 and so his ramp-up will be thoughtful, and we\u2019ll make sure that he\u2019s in a good spot to get going in his Triple-A season to be pitching every fifth day and eventually with us in Chicago.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s in a good spot, and if it was up to him, he\u2019d be full-bore. But he\u2019s just maybe a week or two behind where the other guys are with the ramp-up.\u201d<\/p>\n Erick Fedde, back with the Chicago White Sox, aims to return \u2018brick by brick\u2019 to his 2024 form<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n While Smith and Schultz are working their way through the Sox minor-league system, right-hander Drew Thorpe is working his way back from Tommy John surgery<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cFeel all right,\u201d Thorpe said Thursday morning. \u201cHit some road bumps, so slowed down a little bit. Every surgery is different, so taking it day by day and we\u2019ll get there when we get there.<\/p>\n \u201cSome pain in there building up, slowed it down.\u201d<\/p>\n Thorpe is hoping to throw off the mound in \u201cthe next three weeks or so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s worry,\u201d Thorpe said. \u201cI think it\u2019s just every surgery is a little bit different. You can\u2019t really look at other guys and say \u2018Why am I not in that position?\u2019 The body heals differently.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s worry. Just a slower pace, which sucks, but at the end of the day I would rather slow it down and be fully ready to go when I\u2019m ready instead of trying to push through it and have some problems once we get closer off the mound.\u201d<\/p>\n Thorpe went 3-3 with a 5.48 ERA in nine starts for the Sox in 2024 after being acquired as part of the trade that sent Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"White](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/CTC-white-sox-spring-training-0215-45_219857654.jpg\")
White Sox pitcher Hagen Smith, center, walks with other pitchers after running during spring training at Camelback Ranch on Feb. 15, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz.(Armando L. Sanchez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n