Shane Smith's predictable struggles could force White Sox into uncomfortable decision

2025 was an incredible season for White Sox right-hander Shane Smith. The 25 year-old anchored the White Sox pitching staff, becoming just the second player ever to be selected in the Rule 5 draft and make the all-star team in the same season. Heading into 2026, the training wheels are off, and the White Sox are relying on Smith to take another step forward into becoming a frontline pitcher in the league. Through his first two starts, however, he’s been quite the opposite, and the White Sox may soon be forced to consider something drastic. 

Smith took the mound on Opening Day against the Brewers after a concerning spring. The results of spring training don’t always matter, but Smith struggled mightily, especially in his final two starts before the regular season. Smith finished the spring with a 10.13 ERA, walking nine and hitting five in just 10.2 innings. He took the mound on Thursday in Milwaukee and worked through the first inning with no damage before running into a roadblock in the second. Thanks to a catcher’s interference and a couple walks, Smith allowed four earned runs and departed the game before getting the final out in the second inning. 

Smith got his first chance at redemption in Wednesday’s finale in Miami. After a leadoff walk, Smith got the first out, then induced a comebacker that should’ve been an inning-ending double play. Instead, Smith threw the ball into center field, starting a four-run rally for the Marlins. He gave up two more in the second and third, finally departing the game after three innings having allowed eight runs. Through two starts, Smith has yet to eclipse five total innings and his ERA sits at 19.29. 

Shane Smith's uncharacteristic struggles could force an uncomfortable choice

It’s only been two starts, but Smith looks like a shell of the pitcher he was in 2025. He’s struggled to effectively locate his offspeed pitches and he’s left too many fastballs over the middle of the plate. The White Sox have needed their starting pitchers to put up some innings to save the bullpen, but Smith’s struggles have only amplified the need for more reliable innings. Yes, it’s early, but something clearly isn’t right, and the White Sox can’t afford to continue putting the rest of their pitching staff in a precarious position while Smith figures it out. I think they should consider using one of his minor league options. 

Since it’s been a full year since he was drafted in Rule 5, the White Sox are now free to send Smith down if they so choose. It may be a bit early to turn to top pitching prospects Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith, or Tanner McDougal, but the White Sox desperately need innings, and right-hander Jonathan Cannon has demonstrated the ability to eat innings in the past. His results haven’t been great lately, but neither have Smith’s, and to be honest, I’m more confident in Cannon’s ability to give you five innings right now than Smith’s. 

I’m not suggesting the White Sox give up on Shane Smith. He’s far too talented to continue struggling this much, and two starts is not nearly enough to pull the plug on last year’s best starter. But Smith clearly has things he needs to fix, and the White Sox simply can’t afford to keep throwing him out there every five days. Let Smith head to Charlotte and work out his struggles, and give Jonathan Cannon a chance to provide more reliable innings for the time being. 

Shane Smith was an important part of the 2025 season and is an important piece of the pitching staff moving forward. The White Sox need to make sure they’re putting both him and themselves in the best place to succeed over the course of a long season. Right now, I believe that place for Shane Smith may be Charlotte.