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Hagen Smith's Command Woes Persist, but 2026 MLB Debut Still Likely
Chicago White Sox pitching prospect Hagen Smith returned to action on Sunday, coming out of the bullpen for one inning of relief for Triple-A Charlotte. While the lefty struck out two batters in the inning, he also allowed a hit and yielded three walks, so there are still some improvements to be made. Chicago's top pitching prospect missed over a month with a left shoulder impingement, but had been struggling to find consistency, and the command has been a problem all year. The southpaw owned a 2.82 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over his first seven starts, but those numbers ballooned to 6.16 and 1.60, respectively, over the last seven, with nearly a 17 percent walk rate in both halves. Even so, the strikeout rate sits in the 93rd percentile, so if he can make some refinements, a debut in the second half is well within reach. As such, the 22-year-old is still probably one of the more promising arms to stash in most fantasy leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
