1 week Ago By Billy Heyen
The White Sox used the first pick in the Rule 5 Draft to take Shane Smith. That meant the Brewers organization didn't think highly enough of Smith to protect him, but the White Sox saw his potential. So far, so good, thanks in part to a new pitch Smith didn't even throw while in the Milwaukee organization.
The White Sox taught Smith a changeup that he throws with a circle-change grip. And it's one of the nastiest pitches in the early part of the MLB season. On Tuesday against Cleveland, Smith's first 10 changeups resulted in four swings-and-misses, one foul ball and five outs.
Watch this. It's 91 miles per hour with nasty sink and tail action. Shane Smith's Changeup is an absolute weapon.
pic.twitter.com/rqM54nvw10 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp Paired with a high-90s fastball and a promising slider-curve combination, Smith has tons of options to get hitters out.
Now that they'll be thinking about the changeup, the fastball will get on hitters in a hurry. It's no guarantee Smith's new pitch stays this hot. But if it does, his ceiling is the best on the White Sox.
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