Chicago White Sox Pitcher Hagen Smith Makes Impressive Debut

Chicago White Sox pitcher Hagen Smith entered Sunday’s game after a rain delay of 2 hours and 23 minutes. He learned his participation an hour into the delay.

“I was kind of just waiting around, seeing what time we were going to start,” Smith shared. He spent his time in the weight room to stay loose. “I was moving around a little bit… When we got to a certain time, went out there, played catch and got on the mound.”

Smith, the fifth overall pick in the 2024 draft, made his major-league debut by pitching two scoreless innings against the Cleveland Guardians. In this appearance, he struck out three, walked four, and allowed no hits, working during the second and third innings. He earned the win as the Sox triumphed 5-3.

“You always dream of this growing up,” Smith said. “Especially when you get drafted, you look forward to the debut… doing it was really cool and a really special moment.”

Smith and fellow prospect Tanner McDougal recently joined the Sox roster. They were called up on Saturday. “They have been pitching really well down there (in Charlotte),” pitching coach Zach Bove noted. “Fresh, powerful arms coming out of the ’pen. So that’s going to be good.”

Bove highlighted some adjustments Smith made: “Hagen made some slight changes coming off the IL… with a cutter and the delivery. All of that is in a good spot.”

“There’s definitely some flashes there, the first couple innings, right?” Bove remarked about Castillo’s debut.

Bove also mentioned recent addition Luis Castillo, acquired from the Seattle Mariners. Castillo allowed five runs on six hits, with five strikeouts and a walk in four innings against the Boston Red Sox. He is slated to pitch against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

A closer look at Castillo’s performance shows promise, despite some weaknesses. “The fastball is really good… you look at the line, it wasn’t great, but a lot of weak contact, right?”

Plans to increase Castillo’s changeup usage were discussed. The organization in Seattle often emphasized sliders, and Castillo may now aim to diversify his pitch strategy.

The Sox also welcomed reliever Huascar Brazobán, acquired from the New York Mets. He pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, showcasing his changeup and sinker. “The sinker and the changeup are real,” Bove said. “The guy wants to pitch, he wants to post. He’s very easygoing… we are going to lean on the sinker and changeup.”

The Sox enhanced their bullpen by promoting Smith and McDougal, while David Sandlin and Noah Schultz were moved to Triple-A Charlotte. Schultz, drafted in the first round in 2022, struggled with a 6.60 ERA in his rookie season. He struck out 59 over 65 1/3 innings and totaled 88 1/3 innings across both leagues.

“Noah… the injuries over the years, this guy hasn’t had like a full season,” Bove stated. “He’s 23 years old, has been a top prospect… just use his time (back with Charlotte) as a reset, work on specific things… get used to the grind of a season.”