White Sox manager Will Venable informed reporters (including Mark Feinsand of MLB.com) on Tuesday that the team has finalized its season-opening rotation. Opening Day starter Shane Smith will be followed in some order by Sean Burke, Davis Martin and offseason signees Anthony Kay and Erick Fedde.
Mike Vasil’s bid for a rotation spot was unfortunately dashed by an elbow injury that’ll require Tommy John surgery. Venable confirmed this afternoon that lefty Sean Newcomb will pitch out of the bullpen. The Sox optioned Jonathan Cannon, meaning he’ll open the season at Triple-A Charlotte.
There aren’t any huge surprises. Newcomb signed with an eye towards competing for a rotation spot, but Chicago’s subsequent $1.5MM deal with Fedde made it likelier the southpaw would end up in the bullpen. Newcomb also had a shaky Spring Training, allowing 10 runs (eight earned) across 12 innings. Fedde worked 8 2/3 frames of three-run ball with seven strikeouts and two walks.
Kay was more or less locked into the rotation once he signed a two-year, $12MM deal to return from NPB. The former Mets’ first-round pick has also had the best camp of anyone in the group. Kay has allowed only four runs while leading the team with 15 strikeouts across 16 1/3 frames. His fastball has averaged 95.4 mph.
No one else in the rotation mix has had a standout camp. Smith was the obvious choice to start on Opening Day after strong rookie season. Fedde was one of the worst pitchers in MLB last year but is a year removed from a solid ’24 campaign divided between the Sox and Cardinals. Martin and Burke are fringe starters but performed better than Cannon did in 2025. They entered the spring ahead of him on the depth chart. Cannon’s fine but unexceptional Spring Training numbers (11 innings, five runs, 10:5 strikeout-to-ratio) weren’t enough to flip that.
The rebuilding White Sox have begun to incorporate some potential foundational pieces on offense. The pitching is still quite a bit behind, as this is arguably the weakest on-paper rotation in the American League. The Kay signing provides an interesting wild card, though, and the White Sox added a mid-level pitching prospect (David Sandlin) by taking on part of Jordan Hicks’ contract in a trade with Boston.
Sandlin was optioned early in Spring Training but would be in the mix for a midseason promotion if he shows well in Triple-A. Non-roster prospects Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz probably have the highest ceilings of any pitchers in the organization. They each face questions about whether they’ll throw enough strikes to be mid-rotation or better arms and are looking to rebound from shaky ’25 seasons in the minors.
“this is arguably the weakest on-paper rotation in the American League”
I don’t know, this looks better than the Angels rotation, who still have Alec Manoah penciled in as the 5th starter.
Colorado says hold my beer…
If Colorado was in the AL, I’d be inclined to agree.
Not a bad place to start. No pun intended.
Whoa this is going to be rough. Drew Thorpe should be added for the second half. Schultz and Hagen Smith will get called up in the second half. Maybe the ‘27 rotation will be pretty darn good?
The White Sox AAA Charlotte rotation of Noah Schultz, Tanner McDougal, David Sandlin and presumably Hagen Smith could all be in Chicago as soon as the 2026 season and likely 2027 if there is one in MLB.
Drew Thorpe is also hopeful of returning from his April 2025 TJ surgery by mid-season. Power reliever Grant Taylor is currently on the Chris Sale/Garret Crochet “plan” and expected to also contend for a rotation spot next season.
Things are looking bright on the southside of Chicago with their bevy of high octane arms, bounty of high upside middle infielders that should include college SS phenom Roch Cholowsky in July along with their pair of stud young catchers. All they’ll need is some OF reinforcement to pair with RF Braden Montgomery. The best news of all will be minority owner Justin Ishbia assuming the ownership reigns come 2030 or so to keep this young group intact while also having the capital to add some premium free agents along the way.