{"id":104613,"date":"2026-04-11T23:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T02:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/april-anticipation-grows-for-next-wave-of-white-sox-talent-from-triple-a-charlotte\/"},"modified":"2026-04-11T23:08:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T02:08:00","slug":"april-anticipation-grows-for-next-wave-of-white-sox-talent-from-triple-a-charlotte","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/april-anticipation-grows-for-next-wave-of-white-sox-talent-from-triple-a-charlotte\/","title":{"rendered":"April anticipation grows for next wave of White Sox talent from Triple-A Charlotte"},"content":{"rendered":"

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. \u2014 It\u2019s only the second week of April, but the Triple-A anticipation is already well underway for White Sox<\/u><\/a> fans.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been that way since spring training, pining for the likes of top pitching prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith to make their way to Rate Field. Heck, it\u2019s been that way since the powerful left-handers were drafted in 2022 and 2024, respectively.<\/p>\n

But while the Sox aren\u2019t necessarily playing the service-time manipulation game with the arms of the future still being cultivated down on the farm, the calendar now favors the organization when it comes to team control.<\/p>\n

General manager Chris Getz & Co. have said their top pitching prospects will get the call sometime this season, and with two and a half weeks of the calendar checked off entering this weekend, they\u2019ve guaranteed another year of team control for Schultz, Smith and more in the next wave of the rebuild (players need to log 172 days of roster time in the 186-day season to achieve a year of service).<\/p>\n

The team certainly has some plausible deniability in slow-rolling the pitchers, both of whom dealt with injuries to go along with some developmental growing pains last season.<\/p>\n

But Schultz in particular has looked ready for The Show at Charlotte over his first few appearances of the season, along with right-hander Tanner McDougal and some promising position players: infielder-turned-left fielder Sam Antonacci<\/a> (.342\/.500\/.526) and second baseman William Bergolla Jr. (.457\/.525\/.571).<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter last year, battling a bit of a knee issue, [Schultz] looks like he\u2019s back and ready to go. Multiple pitches. He\u2019s got his cutter working, with some real velocity and command,\u201d Getz said last week. \u201cAnd Hagen has been doing well. His outings are only in three-inning [range] right now. We\u2019re going to continue to build that,\u201d Getz said.<\/p>\n

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White Sox prospect Hagen Smith throws two innings of an Arizona Fall League game at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, on Nov. 4, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/p>\n

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John Antonoff\/For the Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The 6-10 Oswego East product Schultz has consistently topped 98 mph while striking out 19 over 14 innings across three appearances this season, posting a 1.29 ERA for the Knights.<\/p>\n

Smith has struck out nine in a pair of outings, giving up two runs across six innings, while McDougal has racked up 11 K\u2019s in two starts and nine innings, giving up two runs.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo have three significant arms like that at the Triple-A level is very comforting as we\u2019re looking into the future of this season. But we certainly don\u2019t feel like it\u2019s the right time to bring those guys. We want to make sure that those guys are throwing multiple pitches, being able to navigate both-sided hitters, turning lineups over,\u201d Getz said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t want to get too jumpy. I know it could be enticing to bring those pitchers up, but these guys are such a significant part of the future of the White Sox, and we want to handle this with care,\u201d the GM added.<\/p>\n

But their early results look all the more tempting as the Sox\u2019 big-league staff has floundered out of the gate, with a team ERA of 4.88 sitting third-worst in baseball Friday evening.<\/p>\n

Opening Day starter Shane Smith got shipped to Charlotte<\/a> after his third outing of the season with his ERA at 10.80. The Sox have gotten better results lately from Anthony Kay and Davis Martin, but they\u2019ve already resorted to utilizing Grant Taylor as an opener<\/a> to extend an outing for Sean Burke (0-1, 3.60), leaving manager Will Venable scrambling for length out of an overtaxed bullpen.<\/p>\n

Still, he\u2019s in no rush to welcome the touted rookies.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t want to put them in situations where we\u2019re asking them to do stuff that they\u2019re not prepared for, even if they might be the best option,\u201d Venable said. \u201cWith those guys, as talented as they are, as young as they are, they have a development path that is important that they continue down.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A leadoff home run was all Kansas City would need against a lifeless Sox offense. <\/p>\n

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