Shane Smith, selected first overall in December's Rule 5 Draft, earned an MLB All-Star appearance as a rookie right-handed pitcher. He endured a difficult stretch in June and July, surrendering 21 earned runs across 15.1 innings and four starts, then landed on the injured list with a sprained ankle. Smith returned with several quality outings, prompting praise from manager Will Venable for his work ethic and steady development. Smith reached career highs with up to 22 starts and 107 innings in his first Major League season. With the White Sox out of playoff contention, the team intends to protect his health while keeping him on the scheduled rotation.
You know that every player's gonna go through their ups and downs, and that it's really about what it looks like when you get back on track and the process to do that," Venable said. "He's done a great job. He works extremely hard. The coaches talk about it all the time, his teammates talk about it all the time that he's just a guy that's 100% dedicated to this and doing everything he can to be better.
After selecting him first overall in December's Rule 5 Draft, Smith represented the White Sox in the MLB All-Star game as a rookie right-handed pitcher. He also went through a rough patch, allowing 21 earned runs across 15.1 innings and four starts in June and July, and hit the injured list shortly after with a sprained ankle.
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