Shane Smith joins White Sox after Brewers' unprotection

In Glendale, Arizona, Shane Smith has made a strong impression on the Chicago White Sox during spring training. After being picked in the Rule 5 Draft, Smith has secured a spot on the team's roster ahead of Opening Day. The right-handed pitcher is known for his powerful fastball, which reaches upper 90s, and has recently added a good changeup to his skill set. Two weeks ago, Smith had a standout performance by striking out stars like Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in a single game. Manager Will Venable has not officially confirmed it, but Smith is likely to be part of the starting rotation alongside Sean Burke, Davis Martin, Martin Perez, and Jonathan Cannon. Smith, who is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 240 pounds, expressed his joy at making the team. He shared that his family's emotional reaction meant a lot to him. Last season, he had a 3.05 ERA with 113 strikeouts in the minor leagues, but the Milwaukee Brewers chose not to protect him, allowing the White Sox to draft him. The Sox paid $100,000 to select Smith, who must now remain on the major league roster for the entire season. Brian Bannister from the White Sox praised their scouting team for recognizing Smith's potential despite his past injuries. Smith noted that he struggled with his changeup until he made a slight adjustment that improved his performance. Smith's recent pitch against his former team, the Brewers, was surreal for him. He expressed gratitude to the White Sox for giving him this opportunity after not being protected by the Brewers.