White Sox select right-hander Shane Smith with No. 1 pick of Rule 5 Draft

DALLAS — With the first pick in the Rule 5 draft, the White Sox selected right-hander Shane Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers.

On the final day of the winter meetings Wednesday, the Sox’ last order of business was to tab Smith, 24, who owns a 2.69 ERA in 73 games over three minor league seasons in the Brewers organization.

In 32 games between the Brewers Triple-A and Double-A levels in 2024, half of them starts, Smith pitched to a 3.04 ERA while averaging 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings. He struck out 113 batters while walking 29 over 94 1/3 innings.

The 6-4 Smith’s repertoire includes a mid-90s mph fastball, slider and curve.

Smith was an undrafted free agent signed by the Brewers out of Wake Forest in 2022. He didn’t play as a freshman due injury, had his sophomore season cut short by COVID-19 and underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021, so he has been an under-the-rader prospect.

There’s a good chance Smith is part of the Sox’ pitching staff in 2025. Rule 5 picks go on a team’s 26-man roster and must be placed on outright waivers if removed. If waived, Smith must be offered back to the Brewers for $50,000 and can be outrighted to the minors only if the Brewers decline to reacquire him.

The Rule 5 draft allows players left off 40-man rosters who are blocked by their current clubs to get opportunities with another organization. Any players 18 and under at the time
of their original signing with five professional seasons, and players who signed at 19 or older at signing with four professional seasons who are not on a club’s 40-man roster can be selected.

Clubs draft in reverse order of the standings from the previous season. The Sox (41-121) set the modern day record for losses in a season in 2024.