Chicago White Sox rookie elite pitch is what’s leading to his success

The Chicago White Sox are off to a rough start to the season and could be on pace to get close, if not break the loss record.

The rough start to the season hasn’t gotten any better, as the White Sox placed leftfielder Andrew Benintendi on the injured list after he suffered a left adductor strain. Thankfully, his IL stint is retroactive to the 7th, which means he could be activated as early as the 17th.

The White Sox will miss Benintendi’s offensive production and will need their pitching staff to take a step forward as three of the five White Sox starters struggling in their second outings.

One pitcher on the White Sox staff who appears like he’s the real deal is Shane Smith, and it’s all thanks to one pitch in his arsenal.

Chicago White Sox starter’s elite pitch

The White Sox selected Smith out of the Milwaukee Brewers organization with the first pick in the Rule 5 Draft, which took place over the off-season.

The White Sox decided to keep Smith and add him to their Opening Day roster after he impressed Will Venable and the White Sox front office this spring.

What impressed them the most was his stuff, specifically his changeup, which is emerging as his best pitch and the pitch he goes to for strikeouts.

This season, Smith has thrown his changeup 25.7% of the time, which is second to his changeup, which he’s throwing at 42.6%.

Smith’s changeup has some velocity, averaging 90.3mph on the radar gun and having hard downward movement. Smith is getting more than 32.5 inches of vertical break while breaking 13.1 inches to his arm side.

Shane Smith’s Changeup is an absolute weapon. pic.twitter.com/rqM54nvw10

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 8, 2025

According to White Sox on CHSN, Smith taught himself how to throw this changeup over the off-season, leading him to have this success.

Chuck Garfien added that if the Brewers knew about this, they wouldn’t have let him go.

“Who taught Shane Smith that change up…he did that himself.”@ChuckGarfien and @OzzieGuillen on Smith teaching himself how to throw his change up on #WhiteSoxCountdownLive. pic.twitter.com/LjaFfukOeY

— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) April 9, 2025

Something special

The White Sox seem to have something special in Shane Smith, as he’s off to a great start to his young career.

If he can keep this up, Smith and the White Sox could find themselves having this American League Rookie of the Year.

Smith’s next start in the rotation should come next Sunday when the Boston Red Sox come to town.

That start could be interesting, as it could be Garrett Crochet’s first start back in Chicago since being traded.