White Sox Promote Hagen Smith and Tanner McDougal Amid Rotation Struggles

What Happened

The Chicago White Sox have called up left-hander Hagen Smith and right-hander Tanner McDougal from Triple-A Charlotte to make their major league debuts. Smith, the fifth overall selection in the 2024 draft, and McDougal, a 2021 fifth-round pick, join the active roster as the team seeks to stabilize its pitching staff. To facilitate these moves, the club optioned Noah Schultz and David Sandlin to Triple-A. Additionally, the White Sox designated right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez for assignment to open a spot for Smith on the 40-man roster.

Background

The promotions were accelerated by a series of events that strained Chicago's pitching depth. Following a 13-inning game against the Boston Red Sox that required seven relievers, manager Will Venable committed a procedural error during a Friday game against the Cleveland Guardians. Venable visited the mound for a second time in the first inning, failing to account for a prior visit by pitching coach Zach Bove. By MLB rules, this required the immediate removal of starter Noah Schultz after he had recorded only one out. David Sandlin subsequently threw 5 1/3 innings in relief to cover the vacancy, leading to his demotion for a fresh arm.

Why It Matters

Despite a season-high four-game losing streak, the White Sox maintain a two-game lead in the American League Central over the Guardians and Minnesota Twins. The decision to bring up Smith and McDougal reflects a shift in strategy, moving the prospects into relief roles to assist in a competitive divisional race. Smith, who recently returned from a month-long layoff due to a shoulder impingement, has posted 5 1/3 scoreless innings in his last five minor league appearances while averaging over 95 mph on his fastball.

Key Facts

• Hagen Smith was the 5th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft and holds a 4.32 ERA across 20 minor league appearances this year.
• Tanner McDougal recorded a 2.86 ERA in 15 appearances at Triple-A Charlotte before his promotion.
• Noah Schultz was optioned after his ERA rose to 6.60 across 15 appearances.
• The White Sox bullpen was further thinned by the placement of Chris Murphy on the 15-day injured list with a left flexor strain.
• Smith and McDougal are ranked as the organization’s second and fourth-best prospects, respectively, by MLB Pipeline.