White Sox's Hagen Smith: Nursing shoulder impingement
Rotowire
Smith will be shut down for two weeks after being diagnosed with a left shoulder impingement, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
Smith will require two weeks to get ramped back up following the shutdown period, so he's looking at four weeks away from games in a best-case scenario. The left-hander had seemed close to getting his first opportunity at the major-league level, but that will not happen anytime soon now. Smith has collected a 4.67 ERA and 77:36 K:BB over 52 innings covering 14 starts with Triple-A Charlotte in 2026.
... See More... See Less
White Sox's Hagen Smith: Roughed up in latest Triple-A start
Rotowire
Smith yielded eight runs (seven earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out five batters across 4.1 innings for Triple-A Charlotte in Saturday's 11-7 loss to Oklahoma City.
Back on Thursday, White Sox manager Will Venable told Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com that Smith was a candidate to be called up to start for the big club Saturday, but Chicago ultimately decided to wait until the following week to break in a new fifth starter. While Smith could still remain in the mix for a call-up, the rough showing against Oklahoma City might have tempered the White Sox's enthusiasm about promoting him. The 22-year-old lefty has generated an eye-popping 84 punchouts over 57 innings at Triple-A this season, but he's walked 15.9 percent of the batters he's faced and has surrendered eight home runs.
... See More... See Less
White Sox's Hagen Smith: Moved to minor-league camp
Rotowire
The White Sox reassigned Smith to minor-league camp Monday.
The 22-year-old southpaw will open the 2026 season in the minors, likely with Double-A Birmingham. That's where he spent all of last year, posting a 3-3 record across 20 starts with a 3.57 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 108:56 K:BB across 75.2 innings. Per Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times, Smith will open the year in Triple-A and could make his major-league debut this season.
... See More... See Less
White Sox's Hagen Smith: Returning to rotation at Double-A
Rotowire
Smith (elbow) will rejoin the rotation at Double-A Birmingham on Saturday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
It will be Smith's first start since May 10, as he has been sidelined with soreness in his pitching elbow. The fifth overall pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Smith holds a 2.10 ERA and 42:20 K:BB over 25.2 innings covering seven starts with Birmingham this season.
... See More... See Less
White Sox's Hagen Smith: Slowed by elbow soreness
Rotowire
White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Friday that Smith has been sidelined recently by left elbow soreness, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Previous reports indicated Smith merely had some fatigue. The good news is an MRI on Smith's elbow came back clean, and the discomfort has subsided. Smith is expected to be cleared to play catch soon, but it's unclear when he might be ready to make a start. He's posted a 2.10 ERA and 42:20 K:BB over 25.2 innings covering seven starts this season with Double-A Birmingham.
... See More... See Less
White Sox's Hagen Smith: Having start skipped
Rotowire
Smith was pulled early from his last outing with Double-A Birmingham and will have his next start skipped due to fluctuating velocity and signs of fatigue, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
The White Sox are saying Smith is fine physically and this is more about simply managing his workload during his first full professional season. Smith has had control problems this season in issuing 20 walks over 25.2 innings, but he's still managed to post a 2.10 ERA while recording 42 strikeouts.
