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PHOENIX – Ten months ago, Shane Smith was an undrafted 24-year-old reliever at Class AA. Now, a starting pitcher with a different organization, he’s throwing 98 mph with ease and a surefire member of an opening day big-league rotation.
Typically, this would be the sort of story that typifies the Milwaukee Brewers’ pitching development. But, instead, roles are reversed.
If Smith, who’s still living with former Brewers minor-league teammates Logan Henderson, Tate Kuehner and Brett Wichrowski, looks like he did against his former club on Wednesday, he could end up being one that got away.
A Brewers farmhand as recently as the end of last season, Smith pitched four scoreless innings for the Chicago White Sox against Milwaukee in a 5-4 Brewers win American Family Fields of Phoenix, striking out two and allowing three hits and a walk.
The Brewers had a difficult decision to make with Smith in the off-season. In order to protect the right-hander from being eligible for the Rule 5 draft, the Brewers would have needed to add him to the 40-man roster. Milwaukee opted not to add him despite having room on the roster, instead protecting starting pitchers Logan Henderson and Chad Patrick while taking left-hander Connor Thomas from the St. Louis Cardinals in the draft.
“I try not to look into the decisions that the front office makes and the choices that they make,” Smith said.
The hope was that Smith, who had only thrown 157 innings in the minors due to both injuries and primarily being used as a reliever, would sneak through the draft and remain in the Brewers’ organization.
The White Sox thwarted that plan by taking Smith with the first overall pick in the Rule 5 draft in December.
And now, he has bumped his velocity up to nearly triple digits while mixing in cutters at 94 mph and a pair of solid breaking balls.
“He pitched very well today,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He’s got a good arm… I thought he showed great promise.”
Smith has yet to officially make the White Sox roster, but it would be malpractice for them to not add him – thus offering him back to the Brewers – with the arsenal he possesses and spring he’s had (3.38 ERA in 10 ⅔ innings, including a two-strikeout game of Shohei Ohtani).
“It would mean a whole lot more than I can say right now,” Smith said. “Whatever decision they can make, I can live with. I felt like I put my best foot forward this spring, so whatever they decide, I can live with it.”
In 32 games and 16 starts last year between Class AA and AAA, Smith had a 3.05 earned run average and 113 strikeouts to 29 walks in 94 ⅓ innings.
He had been a relief-only pitcher since signing with the Brewers in 2021, at which point he was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, until May 17, 2024. Class AA Biloxi simply needed someone to start and Smith, who had gone multiple innings in relief, was pegged for duty. His next 16 outings were starts with a 2.96 ERA and .190 average against.
“I started all my life so I think that helped,” Smith said. “A little relief in college and then starting in college. I’ve done it all. I love starting so I just fully bought in. I love pitching, so I’ll do whatever job they give me.”
Meanwhile for the Brewers, Aaron Civale got through four scoreless innings before allowing a four spot in the fifth inning. Regardless of results, Civale got his necessary work of five “up-downs” in his penultimate outing of spring. He will start the Brewers’ third game of the season.
Murphy said that Civale “split his finger a little bit” and was dealing with that ailment but it’s nothing that will keep him out.
Craig Yoho, arguably the star of spring for the Brewers, will not be on the opening day roster, as he was reassigned to minor league camp along with catcher Jorge Alfaro on Wednesday. Infielder Andruw Monasterio was also optioned to Class AAA to round out the club’s moves.
The decision on Yoho isn’t altogether surprising considering he doesn’t have a spot on the 40-man roster, though it would be easy to argue the case he deserves to be on the roster based on how he has looked in spring.
“He’s pitched (14) Triple-A innings in his life and he’s got some development (left),” Murphy said. “We’re excited about his future, but right now we think it’s best with the way our whole thing is constructed, depth is a really important thing. He’s only pitched six, seven innings here. He’s done really well and we’re really excited about it but he’s got a ways to go. We’re excited about his development.”
Off-day Thursday.
Brewers vs. Diamondbacks, Friday 8:10 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Freddy Peralta vs. Arizona RHP Corbin Burnes. TV – FanDuel Sports Wisconsin (with Fox 6 simulcast). Radio – 620 AM WTMJ.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Brewers prospect Shane Smith dominating as White Sox Rule 5 pick
Continue reading...
Typically, this would be the sort of story that typifies the Milwaukee Brewers’ pitching development. But, instead, roles are reversed.
If Smith, who’s still living with former Brewers minor-league teammates Logan Henderson, Tate Kuehner and Brett Wichrowski, looks like he did against his former club on Wednesday, he could end up being one that got away.
A Brewers farmhand as recently as the end of last season, Smith pitched four scoreless innings for the Chicago White Sox against Milwaukee in a 5-4 Brewers win American Family Fields of Phoenix, striking out two and allowing three hits and a walk.
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The Brewers had a difficult decision to make with Smith in the off-season. In order to protect the right-hander from being eligible for the Rule 5 draft, the Brewers would have needed to add him to the 40-man roster. Milwaukee opted not to add him despite having room on the roster, instead protecting starting pitchers Logan Henderson and Chad Patrick while taking left-hander Connor Thomas from the St. Louis Cardinals in the draft.
“I try not to look into the decisions that the front office makes and the choices that they make,” Smith said.
The hope was that Smith, who had only thrown 157 innings in the minors due to both injuries and primarily being used as a reliever, would sneak through the draft and remain in the Brewers’ organization.
The White Sox thwarted that plan by taking Smith with the first overall pick in the Rule 5 draft in December.
And now, he has bumped his velocity up to nearly triple digits while mixing in cutters at 94 mph and a pair of solid breaking balls.
“He pitched very well today,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He’s got a good arm… I thought he showed great promise.”
Smith has yet to officially make the White Sox roster, but it would be malpractice for them to not add him – thus offering him back to the Brewers – with the arsenal he possesses and spring he’s had (3.38 ERA in 10 ⅔ innings, including a two-strikeout game of Shohei Ohtani).
“It would mean a whole lot more than I can say right now,” Smith said. “Whatever decision they can make, I can live with. I felt like I put my best foot forward this spring, so whatever they decide, I can live with it.”
In 32 games and 16 starts last year between Class AA and AAA, Smith had a 3.05 earned run average and 113 strikeouts to 29 walks in 94 ⅓ innings.
He had been a relief-only pitcher since signing with the Brewers in 2021, at which point he was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, until May 17, 2024. Class AA Biloxi simply needed someone to start and Smith, who had gone multiple innings in relief, was pegged for duty. His next 16 outings were starts with a 2.96 ERA and .190 average against.
“I started all my life so I think that helped,” Smith said. “A little relief in college and then starting in college. I’ve done it all. I love starting so I just fully bought in. I love pitching, so I’ll do whatever job they give me.”
Aaron Civale works four innings
Meanwhile for the Brewers, Aaron Civale got through four scoreless innings before allowing a four spot in the fifth inning. Regardless of results, Civale got his necessary work of five “up-downs” in his penultimate outing of spring. He will start the Brewers’ third game of the season.
Murphy said that Civale “split his finger a little bit” and was dealing with that ailment but it’s nothing that will keep him out.
Craig Yoho not on opening day roster
Craig Yoho, arguably the star of spring for the Brewers, will not be on the opening day roster, as he was reassigned to minor league camp along with catcher Jorge Alfaro on Wednesday. Infielder Andruw Monasterio was also optioned to Class AAA to round out the club’s moves.
The decision on Yoho isn’t altogether surprising considering he doesn’t have a spot on the 40-man roster, though it would be easy to argue the case he deserves to be on the roster based on how he has looked in spring.
“He’s pitched (14) Triple-A innings in his life and he’s got some development (left),” Murphy said. “We’re excited about his future, but right now we think it’s best with the way our whole thing is constructed, depth is a really important thing. He’s only pitched six, seven innings here. He’s done really well and we’re really excited about it but he’s got a ways to go. We’re excited about his development.”
Brewers spring schedule
Off-day Thursday.
Brewers vs. Diamondbacks, Friday 8:10 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Freddy Peralta vs. Arizona RHP Corbin Burnes. TV – FanDuel Sports Wisconsin (with Fox 6 simulcast). Radio – 620 AM WTMJ.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Brewers prospect Shane Smith dominating as White Sox Rule 5 pick
Continue reading...
