REPORT: Chicago White Sox pitching prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith making most of 1st big-league camp

Cầu thủ ném bóng của Chicago White Sox Noah Schultz ném bóng cùng các cầu thủ ném bóng khác trong buổi tập huấn mùa xuân tại Camelback Ranch vào thứ Bảy ngày 15 tháng 2 năm 2025, tại Glendale, Arizona.(Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Chicago White Sox prospect Noah Schultz threw two well-placed fastballs for called strikes against Jake Amaya on Sunday at Camelback Ranch.

After missing away with a couple of pitches, Schultz got Amaya to swing-and-miss to complete the first at-bat of a live batting practice session.

After Schultz cycled through Amaya, Oscar Colás and Tim Elko, it was Hagen Smith’s turn to take a test.

The 2024 first-round draft pick passed as well, facing Amaya, Matt Thaiss and Elko.

Smith later said the focus Sunday was “attacking with my stuff.”

“(I’m) working on more offspeed for strikes,” Smith said. “I think I threw quite a few sliders and curveballs today, which is what I’ve been working the curveball a lot. So it was nice.”

Smith estimated he threw 17 or 18 pitches. Manager Will Venable liked what he saw from Schultz and Smith, along with the full list of pitchers throwing live batting practice Sunday.

“They looked great,” Venable said. “Excited to see them, I was really excited about everybody. It was a good day. Saw Penn Murfee, Jordan Leasure, these guys were filling up the zone. And, of course, Hagen and Noah looked great as well.”

Chicago White Sox pitching prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith making most of 1st big-league camp
Chicago White Sox pitcher Hagen Smith, center, during spring training at Camelback Ranch on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz.(Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Schultz and Smith are nonroster invitees experiencing their first big-league camps.

“It’s awesome,” Smith told the Tribune on Friday. “Getting to know everybody, putting names to faces. Just being a part of everything. This is where I want to be one day, so it’s cool to be out here.

“I didn’t really have an expectation (of what camp would be like), to be honest. I’ve had people I’ve played with (who have) been to spring training, so I had an idea about it a little bit. Just walked in open-minded and do whatever everybody else does.”

Smith and Schultz are the top two rated left-handed pitching prospects in MLB, according to MLB.com.

The 6-foot-10 Schultz, rated the No. 16 prospect in MLB, is preparing for a larger workload after finishing 2024 with a 2.24 ERA in 23 starts for Class A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham.

Schultz, 21, struck out 115 in 88 1/3 innings in the regular season. He also struck out six while allowing two earned runs in 3 1/3 innings during one postseason start for the Barons.

The 2022 first-round draft pick from Oswego East is soaking up all he can at camp.

“It’s great to get to meet new guys, guys coming from all different types of backgrounds, from different teams previously,” Schultz told the Tribune on Saturday. “Just picking up on things that they do, asking around. It’s great to learn from guys, learn from people here who have been in the big leagues for a while.

“Some things you learn from the guys, just being professional. A lot of things are guys helping with the basics — how you go about your day. It’s nice to learn from the guys who have been doing it for a while.”

Schultz’s focus this spring is “making sure my pitches are ready for the regular season.” He said he would like to throw his cutter more this upcoming season.

“(I) just want to be able to mix it up and keep people guessing,” Schultz said.

Smith has primarily relied on his fastball and slider. He’s hoping the curveball gives hitters something else to think about.

“(It’s) a slower breaking ball, so if people are hunting slider I can throw something slower and get them off-balanced a little bit,” Smith told reporters Sunday.

Smith, 21, is rated the No. 34 prospect by MLB.com. He went 9-2 with a 2.04 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 16 starts in 2024 for Arkansas before being selected with the No. 5 pick in the draft by the Sox. Smith made three starts at Winston-Salem, finishing with a 3.52 ERA and seven strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.

“I want to play a full season (of professional baseball) — last year, I got a taste of it,” Smith said Sunday. “I’m ready to get back out there for a full year.”

Spring training is that starting point.

“Right now, the focus for all our guys in spring training is building the foundation and the routine that’s going to carry them throughout the season, and the things we need to do in the training room, weight room, game-planning, understanding your strengths,” Venable said. “Those things are going to be important for all of us — and those guys (Smith and Schultz) especially — as they are continuing to develop.”

Related Posts

Intrіguіng Red Sox Proѕpect Deаlіng Wіth Potentіаlly Serіouѕ Injury

Zаch Penrod entered ѕprіng trаіnіng hopіng to emerge аѕ one of the top leftіeѕ іn the Boѕton Red ѕox bullpen. Now, he аnd hіѕ teаm juѕt hope…

5 notаble trаnѕаctіonѕ the Cаrdіnаlѕ hаve mаde іn Februаry over the yeаrѕ

In a month not traditionally full of big-name transactions, the Cardinals have made some under-the-radar moves that paid off.

Kіm Hye-ѕeong mаkeѕ ѕolіd MLB ѕprіng trаіnіng debut wіth Dodgerѕ

In his Major League Baseball (MLB) exhibition game debut, Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Kim Hye-seong displayed confidence and determination despite his team’s loss, saying his focus is on proving himself through performance.

Logаn Webb throwѕ ѕubtle ѕhаde аt polаrіzіng former SF Gіаntѕ mаnаger

SF Giants staff ace Logan Webb is never afraid to speak his mind and he was asked about his willingness to call out other players. His response definitely came

Stаndout Plаyerѕ Cubѕ Fаnѕ Should Know About from Sprіng Trаіnіng Opener

Standout players Cubs fans should know about following the team’s spring training opener against the Dodgers.

Adjuѕtmentѕ аt the plаte аre аlreаdy ‘mаkіng ѕenѕe’ for new Phіllіeѕ outfіelder Mаx Kepler

Read – Adjustments at the plate are ‘making sense’ for new Phillies outfielder Max Kepler – and more Phillies news and rumors at PhilliesNation.com