Hagen Smith, a former Bullard Panther, is kicking off his Major League Baseball journey with the Chicago White Sox at Spring Training in Arizona. As a non-roster invitee, he participated in a spring breakout game featuring top prospects from both the White Sox and Rockies. Drafted fifth overall in 2024, Smith described his experience as surreal and enjoyed celebrating with family and friends. He signed for a record bonus, but emphasizes his pure love for the game over financial aspects, aspiring to make it to the majors this season.
"It was really cool just to get selected for that game. Playing with the prospects in our organization and against the Rockies organization is really cool."
"It was really surreal. It kind of took me a day to process everything. You kind of dream of that as a kid and just to see everything workout was really cool."
"We rented a little venue spot in Tyler and just kind of enjoyed everybody's time together. I had been gone awhile before that so it was nice spending time with friends and family."
"I don't ever think about that. Honestly, it's just kind of part of the game. I love this game forever. I'm kind of obsessed with the game, so that's why I play. I truly never think about it."
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