The Chicago White Sox were never supposed to spend August protecting a division lead. They certainly were not expected to do it by turning important innings over to two pitchers who have never appeared in the majors.
Expectations disappeared a while ago.
The White Sox are reportedly promoting top pitching prospects Hagen Smith and Tanner McDougal from Triple-A Charlotte. Noah Schultz and David Sandlin will be optioned to make room after both struggled during Friday’s 8-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians.
Chicago still leads Cleveland by two games in the AL Central despite losing four straight. That makes these promotions considerably different from the usual rebuilding-team routine. Smith and McDougal are not arriving to collect experience during meaningless games. They are joining a team trying to stop its worst skid of the season before its unlikely playoff push starts wobbling.
White Sox need immediate bullpen help
Both rookies were developed as starting pitchers, but injuries forced them into relief roles this summer.
McDougal missed time with a right flexor strain before returning in July. The 23-year-old has recorded a 2.53 ERA and held opponents to a .158 batting average since his return. His fastball can reach triple digits, while his curveball and slider give him legitimate strikeout weapons.
Smith’s route has been similarly uneven. The fifth overall selection in the 2024 MLB Draft missed more than a month with a shoulder impingement before returning as a reliever.
The move appears to have agreed with him. Smith has produced a 1.42 ERA since joining Charlotte’s bullpen, limiting opposing hitters to a rather absurd .095 average. He has also struck out 87 batters across 58 Triple-A innings this season.
The talent is obvious. So is the risk.
Neither pitcher has faced major league hitters, and both are still working their way back from arm trouble. Their command has also been unreliable at times. Those are not minor concerns for a contender asking young pitchers to preserve close leads late in the summer.
Unfortunately, the White Sox have reached the portion of the season where waiting for perfect circumstances is a luxury.
Chicago’s rebuild has entered unfamiliar territory
General manager Chris Getz strengthened the pitching staff around the trade deadline by acquiring Luis Castillo and Huascar Brazobán. Calling up Smith and McDougal takes a different kind of gamble.
This season was supposed to provide another checkpoint in Chicago’s rebuild. Instead, the White Sox have played themselves into first place and changed the timetable. Development is still important, but winning tonight carries considerably more weight than it did in April.
Smith and McDougal could eventually return to starting roles. For now, Chicago needs velocity, strikeouts and outs wherever it can find them.
That is quite an assignment for two rookies. It is also the clearest indication yet that the White Sox are done treating this surprising season like a pleasant accident. They believe they can win the division.
Now, two of the organization’s most promising arms will help determine whether they are right.
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