White Sox Pitcher Shane Smith's MLB Career Off To Historic Start
CHICAGO – A bright spot early in the White Sox 2025 season has been the emergence of pitcher Shane Smith.
The White Sox acquired Smith in the Rule 5 Draft from the Milwaukee Brewers in December, and he made the big-league roster for the first time in his career after a strong spring. He has carried that momentum into his first two MLB starts against the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians.
Smith is the first pitcher to throw at least 11.2 innings in his first two MLB games and allow no more than four total bases since White Sox pitcher Shovel Hodge in 1920, according to Codify Baseball.
Shane Smith is the first pitcher to throw at least 11⅔ innings in his first 2 MLB games and allow no more than 4 total bases since Shovel Hodge did it for the 1920 White Sox. pic.twitter.com/bUir1SJ1Wo
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) April 9, 2025
Surrounded by family, friends and former coaches in the stands at Rate Field for his MLB debut on April 1, Smith was cruising through five innings. He even got the first two batters out in the sixth inning, but then he lost control with two walks. That would be it for Smith's debut as White Sox manager Will Venable made a call to the bullpen.
White Sox reliever Penn Murfee gave up four hits, which put two earned runs on Smith's final line. Across 5.2 innings, Smith gave up two hits and two earned runs while walking four batters and striking out three.
“A little shaky in the first hitter, but after that I settled in pretty good,” Smith said after his debut. “Tried to keep the emotions in check kind of leading up to today. I think I did a pretty good job.”
“The changeup in the first inning was a good weapon. I got away from it a little too much but throwing sliders for strikes, leaning on the curve ball a little bit later. Using the fastball.”
The 25-year-old righty was even better in his second start Tuesday against the Guardians. After retiring the first 12 batters, he finished with six scoreless innings, two hits, one walk and six strikeouts.
Shane Smith becomes the first @whitesox rookie since 2011 to take a no-hit bid into the 6th.
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 8, 2025
The first pick in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft has held opposing batters to a .105 average this year: pic.twitter.com/nsYofePWqh
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