Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won¡¯t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game.

Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is No. 3 in Chicago's system and No. 34 overall, figure to be the cornerstones of a strong future starting rotation. But they were paired together during a 3-1 loss to the Rockies' prospects as part of Sunday¡¯s Spring Breakout contest at Camelback Ranch, much like they were doing in two Cactus League appearances while in big league camp.

Smith started Sunday, working two hitless innings and striking out one, while Schultz went hitless through the third and fourth with two strikeouts. It was Schultz who took the mound first in those Cactus League contests.

¡°It¡¯s really cool,¡± said Smith, who threw 17 of his 30 pitches for strikes. ¡°It¡¯s cool to pitch on the same day as him.¡±

¡°We got a good thing going,¡± said Schultz, who fired 16 of his 22 pitches in the zone. ¡°Next week we have three innings. So we¡¯ll see if we are [again], but it¡¯s fun coming in after him.¡±

According to Statcast, Smith topped out at 96 mph and recorded four swings and misses. Schultz hit 95.7 mph while incorporating six pitches, generating four swings and misses among his work.

This pairing of the game¡¯s top two left-handed pitching prospects, per Pipeline, might not end in Spring Training, as Schultz, Smith and right-hander Grant Taylor, the White Sox No. 7 prospect who did not pitch Sunday, could be part of the same rotation in Double-A Birmingham to open the 2025 season. It¡¯s their next collective step toward the Majors.

¡°Today was a good start for us,¡± Schultz said of the White Sox system as a whole. ¡°It¡¯s just great the bonds we have together on and off the field. It¡¯s a big part in success.¡±

Meet the Montgomerys
They aren't related despite sharing the same last name, but shortstop Colson Montgomery (MLB's No. 39 overall prospect) and center fielder Braden Montgomery (No. 54 overall) showed off similar top-notch glove work Sunday.

Colson took a hit away from Adael Amador to open the fourth by ranging into the hole between third base and shortstop, then throwing across his body on the jump to make a perfect throw to first baseman Tim Elko. Braden saved a big inning in the fifth by making a diving catch on Bryant Betancourt¡¯s line drive, stranding runners on first and third.

¡°I actually thought I was kind of late jumping to it,¡± Colson said of his play. ¡°I had a good angle to the ball and I knew he was a pretty decent runner, so I had to just get it and throw it.

¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t see where Tim was, so kind of just threw it over in the general direction. It worked. You practice those all the time, though. I felt good.¡±

Basepath mass
With two outs in the fifth inning, Elko was hit on the hand by a Jack Mahoney pitch. He took a minute to get to first, as the crowd oohed and ahhed, but then quickly made his way to third on George Wolkow¡¯s single to center.

That¡¯s Elko, at 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, and Wolkow at 6-foot-7, 239 pounds. It¡¯s the White Sox version of the jumbo package on the basepaths.

Wolkow flew out to left fielder Sterlin Thompson at the wall to end the third inning, and his single registered a 114.8 mph exit velocity, per Statcast. And remember, he¡¯s only 19 years old.

¡°Both of them are extremely large males,¡± said a smiling Colson.

¡°He¡¯s electric,¡± added Colson of Wolkow, who he played with for the first time on Sunday. ¡°He¡¯s a very positive, high-energy guy. So it¡¯s kind of cool to be around.¡±

Bullish on Bergolla
Who is William Bergolla?

For openers, he¡¯s the Minor League infielder acquired from the Phillies in exchange for left-handed reliever Tanner Banks at the 2024 Trade Deadline. He¡¯s also one of the slightly under-the-radar White Sox prospects to watch, according to director of player development Paul Janish.

¡°I don¡¯t know if this is a total sleeper,¡± Janish said of Chicago's No. 16 prospect. ¡°But he¡¯s got a really unique defensive ability and skillset in a premium position.¡±

Bergolla, 20, started at second Sunday, making a slick fielding play and then flipping the ball to first base with his glove to nail Drew Romo. He also doubled, swiped third and scored a run, while showing seemingly effortless cool while applying the tag on stolen-base attempts at second. He¡¯s already one of the better defensive infielders in the system.