The Chicago White Sox struck gold in last year’s Rule 5 Draft.

Holding the first overall pick after finishing with the worst record in baseball, the Sox selected right-hander Shane Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers’ system. At the time, Smith had split his 2024 season between starting and relieving in the minors and had logged only 6.2 innings at Triple-A when Chicago took a chance on him and added him to the 40-man roster.

That gamble paid off immediately. Smith became the first Rule 5 pitcher in MLB history to make the All-Star Game as a rookie, finishing the 2025 season with a 3.81 ERA across 29 starts and cementing himself as a core piece of the White Sox rotation moving forward.

Replicating that kind of success is rare. Most Rule 5 picks end up being returned to their original club because they can’t stick on the active roster for a full season — a reminder that this draft is largely made up of players who were bypassed for a 40-man spot by their previous organization.

But the White Sox are once again taking their swing, hoping to recapture the magic they found with Smith — and with Mike Vasil — last winter.

White Sox Select Jedixson Páez and Alexander Alberto

With the second overall pick in the 2025 Rule 5 Draft, the Chicago White Sox selected right-handed pitcher Jedixson Páez.

Paez is a 21-year-old right-hander who has yet to pitch above High-A, but his underlying profile is intriguing. He posted a 2.79 ERA with 10.7 K/9 across 19.1 innings in 2025 and entered the draft as the No. 19 prospect in the Red Sox organization. Evaluators rave most about his 70-grade control — the trait that powered his breakout 2024 season, when he struck out 113 batters and walked only 12 before injuries limited him the following year.

Paez has added fastball velocity each season and now sits in the low 90s, topping at around 94 mph. While the raw stuff isn’t overpowering, his elite command and slider-heavy mix allow everything to play up. The White Sox will likely transition him to a bullpen role as they try to shepherd him through the full 2026 season.

Chicago wasn’t done there. With their second-round selection on the wrap-around, the Sox grabbed right-hander Alexander Alberto from the Tampa Bay Rays. Alberto appeared in 42 games out of the bullpen last season, posting a 2.59 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 48.2 innings.

“The guy has big time stuff. It’s a unique pitch with his cutter…that’s a guy that we feel like can be a big arm in the back of the bullpen. He’s got stuff that stacks pretty well against any hitter," said White Sox GM Chris Getz of Alberto, who stands 6-foot-8 and throws 100 mph. 

Both Paez and Alberto will be added to the White Sox’ 40-man roster, and — like all Rule 5 selections — must remain on the active 26-man roster for the entire 2026 season. If not, they’ll be returned to their previous clubs.