🏳 BJ — Investment Hypothesis

<p>The fifth overall pick of the 2024 draft, <b>Hagen Smith</b>, made his first major-league start Thursday night — sort of.</p><p>His two scoreless innings against the Pirates before giving way to <b>Erick Fedde </b>in a 2-0 loss to the Pirates were an extension of the White Sox’ league-leading use of opening pitchers, not a deviation from his conversion to reliever for the rest of the season.</p><p>“I kind of treated it like it was a bullpen,” Smith said.</p><p>Smith’s first two full years in pro ball have been defined by sluggish, physically challenging first halves of the season before strong finishing kicks, which is part of why he’s in the bullpen.</p><p>“The last couple of years, the first half of the season has been marred a little bit by an injury — nothing serious — but in the second half of both last year and what it looks like this year, he’s come back after the injury and been really good,” Sox farm director <b>Paul Janish</b> said.</p><p>With a 0.50 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 18 innings, Smith’s adjustment is going swimmingly, his 10 walks aside. With 16 games left, his role could be the sort of opportunity that Triple-A starters <b>Jonathan Cannon</b>, <b>Noah Schultz</b>, <b>Drew Thorpe</b> or <b>David Sandlin</b> should anticipate.</p><p>“It’s very reasonable, as we’ve seen, that they would pitch in a bulk role,” Janish said. “Potentially start as well.