Getz: No plans to call up White Sox top pitching prospects
White Sox pitching has been a disaster during the opening week of the season, producing an MLB-worst 8.63 team ERA.
There may be better options in the minors, but general manager Chris Getz said Friday this is not the time to call up Noah Schultz, Tanner McDougal or Hagen Smith for their MLB debuts.
“Yeah, we know those guys are there,” Getz said in the dugout ahead of the home opener against Toronto at Rate Field. “To have three significant arms like that at the Triple-A level is very comforting as we're looking into the future of this season. But certainly don't feel like it's the right time to bring those guys (to the majors).”
Schultz, Smith and McDougal are rated the White Sox' Nos. 2, 4 and 6 prospects by MLB Pipeline. Schultz and Smith were back-to-back first-round picks in 2022 and '23, Schultz out of Oswego East High School, and Smith from Arkansas. McDougal was chosen in the fifth round in 2021 out of Silverado High School in Las Vegas.
Schultz, a 6-foot-10 left-hander, has been dominant in two appearances with Triple-A Charlotte, allowing just 2 hits, 2 walks and 1 run over 9 innings pitched, with 10 strikeouts. Against Nashville on Wednesday, his four-seam fastball averaged 96.6 mph and he used six types of pitches.
Smith has been limited to 3 innings in his two early appearances and posted a 3.00 ERA. McDougal struck out 8 in 4 innings in his first outing for Charlotte, allowing 1 run on 2 hits.
“We want to make sure those guys are throwing multiple pitches, being able to navigate both-sided hitters, turn lineups over,” Getz said. “You don't want to get too jumpy. I know it can be enticing to bring those pitchers up, but these guys are such a significant part of the future of the White Sox. We want to handle this with care and making sure they're ready when they come in.”
It's unclear if that timeline will be accelerated if Sox pitchers continue to struggle. Shane Smith, an all-star last year as a rookie, has a 19.29 ERA through two starts.
Anthony Kay (3.86) is the only starter with an ERA below 5.00. The Sox tried to mix things up Friday by using Grant Taylor as an opener ahead of Sean Burke.
“It's really his four-seam fastball, commanding it, having the confidence in it,” Getz said of Shane Smith's struggles. “It really hasn't been there, and it was such an effective pitch for him last year. I mean, it was one of the top four-seam fastballs in baseball.
“He does not have that as a weapon right now. It just doesn't allow him to attack and navigate lineups. We kind of paid the price because of it. So we have to get that right. We're doing everything we can to get him back on track.”
The Sox are facing Dylan Cease on the mound Friday. He signed with Toronto as a free agent this winter, two years after the White Sox traded him to San Diego. Cease piled up 12 strikeouts in 5⅓ innings in his first outing for the Blue Jays against the Athletics.