Schultz gains valuable experience in first big league camp
Scott Merkin
@scottmerkinGLENDALE, Ariz. -- Noah Schultz likely won¡¯t be part of the White Sox Major League roster when the team breaks camp and departs Arizona on March 24.
But even if the No. 1 White Sox prospect, per MLB Pipeline, returns to the Minor League side a week or two before Spring Training ends, there¡¯s still much information to be gleaned and much progress to be made by the 6-foot-9 left-hander during his first big league camp.
Schultz, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the sport¡¯s No. 16 overall prospect, is in camp as a non-roster invitee, thus his long-shot status for the Opening Day roster. White Sox No. 3 prospect Hagen Smith has similar roster status. Those two are 1-2 on MLB Pipeline¡¯s list of left-handed pitching prospects.
Other young White Sox pitchers can speak of the value of big league camp, regardless of roster outlook.
¡°It was a huge learning curve for me last year, and I think it was very beneficial to watch [Erick] Fedde and [Garrett] Crochet and even [Dylan] Cease there for a little while just go about their business,¡± White Sox starter Jonathan Cannon said before the team¡¯s first on-field workouts Wednesday at Camelback Ranch, ¡°see what they do that makes them so successful.
¡°Being able to come here and eventually going back to the Minor Leagues, it gives you a new perspective on everything and kind of increases the work ethic a little bit. That¡¯s my goal; that¡¯s where I want to get. I know Schultz, I know Hagen, all those guys. I know that they are all very eager to get up here and they all have the talent.¡±
Cannon entered last Spring Training as an under-the-radar prospect who put his ability on display during Cactus League action. Injuries and the White Sox situation overall gave Cannon a chance in Chicago in ¡¯24, and he finished 5-10 with a 4.49 ERA over 23 appearances (21 starts). Now, he enters Spring Training at age 24 as one of the favorites to start on Opening Day.
Could Schultz make that same jump from 2025 to ¡¯26? Anything is possible with Schultz¡¯s immense talent, but talk of being an ace in the making is just talk for Schultz at this point.
¡°It¡¯s pretty cool for people to say. It¡¯s cool to be in talks like that,¡± Schultz said. ¡°But I definitely have to prove myself.¡±
Schultz posted a 2.24 ERA over 23 starts in ¡¯24 between High-A Winston-Salem and Double-Birmingham, where he could start the ¡¯25 campaign. He struck out 115 against 24 walks in 88 1/3 innings. Held to a strict pitch count and innings limit, Schultz never pitched beyond four innings. That remained true in his 24th trip to the mound, a start in the Southern League postseason.
Those restraints are being taken off the 21-year-old, as he moves into a five-man rotation setup this year. Schultz couldn¡¯t remember the last time he was asked to work a true starter¡¯s workload, but he focused on general strength conditioning this past offseason to be ready.
¡°I¡¯ve been on a pitch limit for two years. But I¡¯m excited this year to finally be off that,¡± Schultz said. ¡°It¡¯s going to be definitely a little bit different, but there¡¯s a bunch of guys here who have all done it longer than I have. It¡¯s nice to learn from them and pick up on how to adapt throughout the week.¡±
Said White Sox general manager Chris Getz: ¡°We¡¯re going to continue to build on that. Getting him closer to what it¡¯s going to be like in a Major League season is what we¡¯ve set out to do this year so we can look up in ¡¯26 and pencil him in as a starter for our Major League club.¡±
Schultz is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut at home against the Padres on Feb. 26. He hasn¡¯t added to his repertoire but instead has focused on throwing the cutter and four-seam fastball more to mix things up and keep hitters guessing.
Schultz will have a chance to work on everything over the next six weeks. He¡¯ll also have opportunities to talk with other hurlers while getting to know his future teammates.
¡°This is the first time they¡¯ve met a lot of those guys,¡± White Sox starter Sean Burke said. ¡°I¡¯ve told Schultz and I¡¯ve told Hagen, ¡®Get comfortable with your teammates, so when you get up there, it feels like you are part of the team instead of getting up to a new environment.¡¯¡±