Another day, another disappointing end to a blue-chip White Sox prospect’s season.
Oswego East product Noah Schultz was left off the Arizona Fall League roster announced Wednesday by MLB, signaling an end to a frustrating year for the towering left-hander who’s rated No. 2 in the Sox’ system and No. 37 overall.
That comes a day after the Sox announced that their No. 1 prospect, outfielder Braden Montgomery, was done for the year at Double-A Birmingham with a broken bone in his foot.
The Sox put Schultz, 22, on the injured list as a precaution last week after he started feeling discomfort in his right knee, a flare-up of patellar tendinitis that kept him off the mound for more than a month this summer.
It closes the book on a rocky season for the 6-10, 240-pound Schultz, who went 4-5 with a 4.68 ERA over two minor-league levels. He struggled with a 9.37 ERA in five starts after his June promotion to Triple-A Charlotte.
Montgomery is still expected to play in the AFL along with 2024 first-round pick Hagen Smith, another lefty who has gone 3-3 with a 3.64 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 19 starts at Birmingham.
Burke, Vargas return; Taylor hurt
Opening Day starter Sean Burke, who was sent to Charlotte last month after a string of short starts, didn’t fare all that much better in his return to big-league action in the Sox’ 6-5 victory Wednesday over the Rays.
Burke allowed five hits, including two solo homers, walked four and struck out five in 4⅓ innings.
He was charged with three earned runs, one of them scoring on a two-run bomb served up by reliever Brandon Eisert, to raise his ERA to 4.35.
“I’m happy with where I’m at, just kind of getting the little jitters back from being up here settled down,” Burke said.
Manager Will Venable said the Sox still view Burke as a viable starter long term: “We’re a long ways away from having a conversation about next year, but certainly we think very highly of him.”
The Sox also welcomed back infielder Miguel Vargas, who injured his wrist while trying to catch a throw to first in front of the Yankees’ Aaron Judge two weeks ago.
Vargas went 1-for-4 with a single in his first at-bat and scored on a double by Michael A. Taylor. Playing third base, Vargas also made a nice barehanded play on a bunt to retire Rays leadoff man Chandler Simpson.
A decent night for the Sox took an unsettling turn when prized rookie reliever Grant Taylor exited with the trainer after throwing seven pitches late in the game. He was being evaluated for a groin strain.
To accommodate the returns of Burke and Vargas, the Sox designated reliever Dan Altavilla for assignment and optioned third baseman Bryan Ramos to Charlotte.
Robert ‘running out of time’
Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. did light running drills in the outfield before the game, but his season is likely over.
“We’re not sticking the fork in him yet, but we acknowledge we’re probably running out of time here,” Venable said.
Robert strained his hamstring Aug. 27, raising the question of whether he had played his last game for the Sox.
General manager Chris Getz has signaled that the team will pick up Robert’s $20 million contract option for next season, but he has been fielding trade offers for more than a year.