White Sox look to Triple-A Charlotte as April tension rises
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s only the second week of April, but the Triple-A anticipation for the White Sox is already building fast.
The names are familiar to fans who’ve been waiting through spring training and since the left-handers were drafted in 2022 and 2024. Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith have been on the radar for the next wave of White Sox talent at Rate Field.
What’s changed is the calendar. Entering this weekend, two and a half weeks have already been checked off, and that timing matters because it locks in an additional year of team control. The Sox have said their top pitching prospects will get the call sometime this season, and with the service-time math in play—players need to log 172 days of roster time in the 186-day season to achieve a year of service—the organization has essentially secured another season of control for Schultz, Smith and more as the rebuild continues.
At the same time, the Sox aren’t leaning on the service-time manipulation angle with these arms. Their rationale is simpler: the pitchers still need to build. Chris Getz said last week that Schultz is starting to look ready at Charlotte after last season’s knee issue. “After last year, battling a bit of a knee issue, [Schultz] looks like he’s back and ready to go. Multiple pitches. He’s got his cutter working, with some real velocity and command,” Getz said. For Smith, the plan is to keep shaping his workload. “And Hagen has been doing well. His outings are only in three-inning [range] right now. We’re going to continue to build that,” Getz added.
The early production at Triple-A makes the argument harder to ignore. Through the first stretch of the season, Schultz has consistently topped 98 mph and has struck out 19 over 14 innings across three appearances, posting a 1.29 ERA for the Knights. Smith has struck out nine in a pair of outings, giving up two runs across six innings. Tanner McDougal adds a separate layer of comfort with 11 strikeouts in two starts and nine innings, also allowing two runs.
Getz’s message stayed steady: don’t get impatient even with results stacking up. “To have three significant arms like that at the Triple-A level is very comforting as we’re looking into the future of this season. But we certainly don’t feel like it’s the right time to bring those guys. We want to make sure that those guys are throwing multiple pitches, being able to navigate both-sided hitters, turning lineups over,” he said. He also warned against rushing the timeline. “You don’t want to get too jumpy. I know it could be enticing to bring those pitchers up, but these guys are such a significant part of the future of the White Sox, and we want to handle this with care,” the GM added.
Still, there’s pressure from the big-league side. The Sox’ staff has struggled out of the gate, with a team ERA of 4.88 that sits third-worst in baseball Friday evening. Opening Day starter Shane Smith was shipped to Charlotte after his third outing of the season, when his ERA was 10.80. The team has improved more recently with Anthony Kay and Davis Martin, but even that hasn’t solved the need for bullpen options that are already getting worn down.
Will Venable, scrambling for usable innings, addressed the hesitation directly. The Sox have already used Grant Taylor as an opener to extend an outing for Sean Burke (0-1, 3.60), and Venable said they aren’t interested in throwing young pitchers into situations they aren’t ready for. “You don’t want to put them in situations where we’re asking them to do stuff that they’re not prepared for, even if they might be the best option,” Venable said. “With those guys, as talented as they are, as young as they are, they have a development path that is important that they continue down.”
At first glance, Triple-A’s form could tempt a quick call. But the Sox appear to believe the future benefits from patience—even as April tension grows.