DURHAM, NC – Another young arm with Coastal Plain League (CPL) roots reached the biggest stage, as Shane Smith made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Chicago White Sox on April 1.

In December, Smith (picture courtesy of Darren Georgia/Chicago White Sox) was the first player selected in the Rule 5 draft, as the White Sox picked him up. After a solid spring and making Chicago’s Opening Day roster, he earned the start versus Minnesota. And Smith didn’t disappoint, pitching 5 2/3 innings of 2-hit ball with four walks and three strikeouts. He walked the last two batters he faced with two outs in the top of the sixth before he was relieved. Both runners would later score, leaving Smith responsible.

Since his debut, the 6-3, 240-pound righty is 0-1 with a 2.04 ERA in three starts. He’s allowed four runs, earned, on nine hits, walked seven, and struck out 12. After his first two starts, Smith etched his name in the team record books, becoming the first pitcher to throw at least 11 2/3 innings in his first two MLB games and allow no more than four total bases since White Sox pitcher Shovel Hodge in 1920.

An undrafted free agent by Milwaukee in 2022, the Wake Forest product spent time between Single-A and Double-A in his first full season of pro ball. That year, he was 7-4 with a 1.96 ERA across 38 games. He struck out 86 versus walking 21 in 59 2/3 innings. In 2024, Smith started with Double-A Biloxi before being called up to Triple-A Nashville. He made five appearances for the Sounds, finishing 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA.

During the summer of 2020, Smith pitched for the High Point-Thomasville HiToms, where he went 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA. In 14 2/3 innings on the bump, he gave up six runs — four earned – on nine hits, walked 13 and struck out 24.

Smith marks the fourth CPL alum to debut in the Bigs in 2025 and 198th overall. He is also the 24th former HiToms player to become a Major Leaguer.