GLENDALE, Ariz. — Noah Schultz made the journey from the bullpen to the mound for the top of the fifth inning Wednesday against the San Diego Padres.

The left-hander, ranked as one of the top 20 prospects in baseball, threw a strike on his first pitch to Mike Brosseau.

It was a sign of things to come for Schultz, who allowed one hit in a scoreless inning.

The Chicago White Sox got a glimpse of the future Wednesday as Schultz and fellow lefty Hagen Smith made their Cactus League debuts in the 3-1 loss at Camelback Ranch.

“It was a big focus on first-pitch strikes,” Schultz said. “I think I did a couple of those, so I’m happy with that. Went out and got outs. I’m happy with that.”

Schultz threw eight pitches, six of which were strikes. He surrendered a single to Brosseau but then got Niko Goodrum to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. Schultz got Mason McCoy to fly out to left to end the quick inning.

“The important thing is to put up a zero and help contribute to the team,” Schultz said.

Schultz, 21, remained in the dugout to watch Smith, 21, the following inning.

“It was awesome, cool to see him come in after me,” Schultz said. “Throwing fireballs. It was pretty sweet.”

Smith pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one hit and one walk. He had three strikeouts.

“Kind of worked out of some jams,” Smith said. “Not the clean one I wanted, but it was good.”

The Padres had runners on the corners with one out in the sixth. Smith struck out the next two batters to escape trouble.

Smith credited catcher Adam Hackenberg with “calling a really good game.”

“(I) kind of got punched in the face a little there and had to battle through some stuff, which I liked though,” Smith said.

The Sox selected Smith with the No. 5 pick in last year’s draft. He is ranked the No. 34 prospect by MLB.com. Schultz, from Oswego East, was a first-round pick in 2022. He is rated the No. 16 prospect by MLB.com.

Manager Will Venable said the two have been “extremely professional in their approach,” this spring.

“They’re going into their bullpen sessions and their lives with a plan, and they’re executing, and when they’re not executing, they’re making their adjustments,” Venable said before Wednesday’s game. “And that’s what you see of the Martín Pérez’s and these veteran guys that have really survived in this league, is that adaptability.

“And especially in their work, to really have a purpose and get something out of these bullpen sessions. And you see that with both of these guys.”

Venable likes how both have been filling the strike zone.

“Throwing strikes is something we’ve been pounding our fist on the table about here in camp,” Venable said Tuesday. “Those guys don’t have any problem doing that.”

Catcher Kyle Teel has caught both this spring.

“They both have electric stuff,” Teel said Wednesday morning. “My first time catching Noah I was like, ‘Dang, I don’t know what it’s going to be like to hit this guy.’ I haven’t faced him in (live batting practice), but I can’t imagine it’s a comfortable at-bat, being on the left side.

“And Hagen Smith, first ball he threw to me was 99 miles an hour and I was like, ‘Wow, that’s impressive.’”

This is the first major-league camp for Schultz and Smith. They’re happy to experience it together.

“It’s pretty awesome, being with him, so close in age and everything,” Schultz said. “I don’t have a brother, I have two sisters, but at least for the season, it’s the closest thing I have to that. It’s pretty cool.”

Catching prospect Kyle Teel has a viral moment

Sox catching prospect Kyle Teel homered against Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Roki Sasaki during a live batting practice session on Tuesday on the back fields at Camelback Ranch.

Many teams pursued Sasaki this offseason. He is the top-rated prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com. Teel is ranked No. 32 on that list.

Video of Teel’s blast went viral on social media. He wasn’t anticipating the moment receiving that much attention.

“To be honest, in the moment I just needed to get my work in,” Teel said Wednesday morning. “I just need to focus on my process. At the end of the day, you’re hitting a ball that is crossing the plate. That was my main focus.”