White Sox sending Smith against former team on Opening Day

A little over a year ago, the White Sox plucked right-hander Shane Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers as the first pick of the Rule 5 Draft.

Now Smith will take the mound for the White Sox on Opening Day on March 26 in Milwaukee. Manager Will Venable made the announcement Sunday.

“I never went to Milwaukee when I was with that organization, so going there for the first time with the White Sox will be a little ironic,” Smith told reporters in Arizona. “Opening Day against anybody, it's an honor.”

Smith turned out to be a smart selection. He made the all-star team as a rookie and was the team's most effective starter in '25, finishing with a 3.81 ERA in 29 starts.

“Opening Day is what I wanted,” Smith said. “Being on the team first and foremost, but Opening Day is what I was striving for. To get that was a really good feeling. After Opening Day, hopefully you have 30 more starts. So hopefully it's the start of a solid year.”

Smith signed with the Brewers after going undrafted in 2021 out of Wake Forest, and got as high as Triple A before moving to the Sox.

“There's no ill feelings toward them by any means,” Smith said. “I think it will be cool. I work out with Sal Frelick in the offseason, so I know him really well. A lot of my good buddies are still over there. I hope they’re on the Opening Day roster and I can see them.”

The Sox are expected to use familiar names in the rotation when the season begins. Besides Smith, the likely list figures to include Davis Martin, Sean Burke, Erick Fedde and newcomer Anthony Kay. Then it's probably a matter of time before top prospects Tanner McDougal and Noah Schultz make their major-league debuts.

The White Sox begin the season in Milwaukee and Miami before the home opener arrives April 2 against Toronto.