Shane Smith Locked into the Starting Rotation in Chicago After 2025 Emergence
After being selected by the Chicago White Sox in the Rule 5 Draft heading into the 2025 season, starting pitcher Shane Smith emerged as a quality starting pitching option. Across 146 1/3 innings (29 starts), the 25-year-old posted a 7-8 record with a 3.81 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 145 strikeouts. Smith's 23.5% strikeout rate and 14.1% K-BB rate don't jump off the page, and his 4.10 FIP could indicate that he is in line for some regression in 2026. However, Smith posted a much more impressive 29.6% strikeout rate across 94 1/3 Minor League innings in the Milwaukee Brewers system in 2024. He will turn just 26 years old in April, so Smith could still have plenty of room to develop in his second big league campaign. The White Sox once again project to be one of MLB's worst teams, which limits Smith's potential to rack up wins. Still, Chicago will likely give him an extended runway in the starting rotation even if he suffers through some early-season struggles. With an average draft position of pick 268, Smith profiles as starting pitching depth with some upside for fantasy managers in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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