Despite speculation about a spring surge, the White Sox plan to keep top left-handers Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith on a development path to begin the 2026 season.
Before the Chicago White Sox made another veteran addition to the starting rotation by signing Erick Fedde to a one-year contract, I speculated whether the spring training competition was more open than what met the eye.
One thing the White Sox do have is pitching depth, even if there’s some uncertainty surrounding the quality of that depth and how it will translate to the mound this season.
Between returning arms that showed promise and prospects on the cusp of a big-league call-up, the White Sox have plenty of options that should make spring training both competitive and constructive.
It’s worth noting that in each of the last two seasons, there has been a surprise addition to Chicago’s Opening Day rotation. Someone has earned a spot despite beginning the spring on the outside looking in.
In 2024, it was Garrett Crochet proving he could handle a starting role and ultimately getting the ball on Opening Day.
It was Shane Smith playing his way not only onto the roster as a Rule 5 Draft pick, but into the regular rotation right out of the gate.
Looking at the current mix of White Sox arms, I believed left-handed pitching prospect Noah Schultz was a candidate to follow in those footsteps.
Schultz endured an inconsistent 2025 season and struggled after being promoted to Triple-A Charlotte while battling chronic knee issues.
The White Sox attribute much of his inconsistency to those knee problems, which affected not only the quality of his stuff, but also his release point and overall command.
As he arrived at Camelback Ranch healthy and pain-free, Schultz, in my view, is the type of pitcher who could impress evaluators quickly.
It’s not every day you find a 6-foot-9 left-hander with explosive stuff. If Schultz shows up with that arsenal fully dialed in, it would be difficult for the White Sox to ignore the possibility that he’s one of the five best starting options in the organization.
There’s a reason that, even after his 2025 struggles, he remains a Top 50 prospect in baseball.
That felt like a legitimate possibility. But as pitchers and catchers reported to Camelback Ranch this week, the White Sox were quick to temper that speculation.
Manager Will Venable appeared on Foul Territory TV, and during the interview confirmed that neither of the organization’s top left-handed pitching prospects — former first-rounders Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith — will break camp with the big-league club.
“No, neither of them are going to break with our team. We’ve been direct with those guys about that,” Venable said when asked by former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski. “We want to set them on a path to get into their routine and get their buildup going. But at the same time, they're going to be guys that help us this year.
“We know how important they are to our organization for our success this year and in the long term.”
That’s not what any young player wants to hear. Every prospect arrives at spring training with the goal of breaking camp with the club.
Still, there’s value in the White Sox maintaining open and honest communication with Schultz and Smith. That’s the right way to handle player development — setting clear, realistic expectations while outlining a path forward.
They’re going about this the proper way, even if the news isn’t the most exciting for fans energized by the wave of young talent.
It also doesn’t change the objective for Schultz or Smith this spring: go into camp and force the issue. Be so good that the organization is compelled to reconsider its timeline.
It may not happen immediately. But players can control their preparation and performance, and from there trust the decision-makers to act in their best interests.
With the addition of Fedde, the White Sox now have a fairly defined group of five frontrunners for rotation spots.
Shane Smith, Davis Martin, Anthony Kay, Sean Burke, and Fedde headline the mix, with the possibility of a young starter or converted reliever pushing for an opportunity.
The clarity helps narrow the field and provides a better understanding of where the organization currently stands.
I still believe both Schultz and Smith can reach the big-league level by the end of 2026 and make a meaningful impact. And it’s fair to assume the White Sox expect nothing less.