GLENDALE, Ariz. — It’s time to stop reading the tea leaves about the White Sox’ pitching staff.
The big brass announced Sunday that right-hander Shane Smith will be the Opening Day starter March 26 in Milwaukee. The rest of the rotation will be named shortly, manager Will Venable said.
The rotation might fall into place with right-handers Davis Martin and Sean Burke and left-handers Anthony Kay and Sean Newcomb lining up behind Smith.
‘‘We’ve made some decisions,’’ Venable told the media before the Sox’ Cactus League game against the Royals. ‘‘There are a lot of things that go on with that, though we’re getting closer to figuring out how it’s all going to shake out. There’s a lot of moving parts. We’ll announce that when it’s appropriate.’’
Venable called Smith into his office to give him the news. A video of the encounter posted on X showed Smith with Venable, the pitching coaches and general manager Chris Getz.
What did he expect?
‘‘You never know when you walk in and see your manager and general manager there,’’ said Smith, who grew emotional. ‘‘I’ve only received good news in that office. But every time I go into that office, I’m still nervous.’’
The news couldn’t have been any better. So Smith’s unlikely journey from the Brewers to the Sox in the Rule 5 Draft in 2024 to the American League All-Star team last season to the Opening Day start is complete.
‘‘Being on the team, first and foremost, is what I wanted,’’ Smith said. ‘‘But Opening Day is what I’ve been striving for. To get that was a really good feeling, but hopefully I’ll have 30 more starts. Hopefully it’s the start of a solid year.’’
Sometimes the journey is more important than the results, Venable acknowledged.
‘‘It’s really incredible,’’ he said. ‘‘When you think about a kid [the Brewers] didn’t even put on a major-league roster, [then] all of a sudden he’s an All-Star and an Opening Day starter, that’s really cool to see. Really, it’s a tribute to a guy who works really hard. He’s got the right mentality. He’s obviously very talented, but he works at this and put himself in this position.’’
The topic of when Venable/Getz would announce an Opening Day starter, much less the rotation, had been a hot one in camp. This decision should provide much-needed clarity.
Smith has made two starts this spring, allowing four runs in 4‰ innings with two strikeouts and two walks. He is slated to start again Tuesday against the Athletics in Mesa. Based on his rookie stats last season — 7-8 with a 3.81 ERA in 29 starts — the Sox think Smith is ready for the Opening Day challenge.
‘‘He’s somebody that, from a performance standpoint, has put himself in that category of guys we want in the front of the rotation,’’ Venable said. ‘‘But also as a teammate and a leader in our clubhouse, he’s a guy who sets an example for our group. He’s emerged as a leader.’’
Smith, who will be 26 on April 6, was signed as a free agent by the Brewers in 2021 but noted the Opening Day start will be his first trip to Milwaukee. He never visited during his time with the Brewers.
Smith pointed out he was never a hotshot or a highly ranked prospect.
‘‘My journey starts long before the Rule 5,’’ Smith said. ‘‘It would be shortsighted to look at just the last year. Since I graduated from high school, my baseball career has never been the same. I’ve never been on any prospect lists. I’ve never been a top-30 prospect for any team.
‘‘Those things just tell me that none of that’s important. What you do on a daily basis and how you treat the people around you is a better identifier of who you are as a baseball player than anything.’’