Smith and Vasil look like two Rule
5 hits for the rebuilding Chicago White Sox
[June 17, 2025]
By JAY COHEN
CHICAGO (AP) — Shane Smith pitched a total of 10 1/3 innings during
his college career at Wake Forest. He had a shoulder operation as a
freshman, and his sophomore year was shut down by the COVID-19
pandemic. Then he had elbow surgery.
At that point, even Smith began to wonder if baseball was going to
work out for him.
“My dream of playing professional baseball, to say it didn't waver
would probably be lying,” he said. “But I knew there was an avenue
somehow.”
There sure was.
Smith has turned into a pleasant surprise for the last-place Chicago
White Sox after he was selected by the team in the Rule 5 draft. The
White Sox also have Mike Vasil, another 25-year-old Rule 5
right-hander who was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay in March.
The Rule 5 draft provides an opportunity for players left off big
league team's 40-man rosters after several minor league seasons.
Teams pay $100,000 to select a player in the major league portion.
The players must stay on the active 26-man major league roster all
season or else clear waivers and be offered back to their original
organization for $50,000.
Between 10 and 20 players are selected in the big league Rule 5
draft most seasons, but most don't actually stick with their new
clubs. Even fewer develop into All-Star-worthy contributors. Hall of
Fame outfielder Roberto Clemente and two-time Cy Young Award winner
Johan Santana are two of the most famous Rule 5 success stories.
So far, it looks as if Smith and Vasil are going to stick with the
rebuilding White Sox — quite an accomplishment for an organization
from one Rule 5 draft. Smith has a 2.37 ERA in 68 1/3 innings over
13 starts, and Vasil has a 1.99 ERA in 45 1/3 innings over 20
appearances, all but two in relief.
“Obviously Mike and I are, I think, putting our best foot forward as
of now,” Smith said. “The biggest thing we can do is just keep it
going, keep doing the same stuff.”
Smith or Vasil very well could represent the last-place White Sox at
next month's All-Star Game in Atlanta. Dan Uggla with the Florida
Marlins in 2006 is the only player to be named an All-Star in the
season after he was selected in the Rule 5 draft, according to
Sportradar.
Being a Rule 5 player is a unique situation in that first year, but
Vasil said he doesn't think about it very often.
“I've spent my whole life trying to get here,” he said. “So I think
it's already hard enough, don't put more pressure on yourself.”
The 6-foot-5 Vasil was selected by the New York Mets in the eighth
round of the 2021 amateur draft out of the University of Virginia.
He was picked by Philadelphia in the Rule 5 draft in December and
then traded that same day to the Rays for cash.
The White Sox are Vasil's fourth organization since the end of last
season.
“It's a lot,” he said. “But I think for me, at the same time, I
guess you could say you feel wanted by a lot of different teams.”
Vasil began the season in Chicago's bullpen, recording a 1.89 ERA in
his first 18 appearances. He got his first career win when he
pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings against Houston on May 4 and his
first save when he got three outs at Cincinnati on May 14.
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Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Mike Vasil throws during the
first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday,
June 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
But Vasil's six-pitch arsenal — highlighted by an
effective sinker and sweeper — makes him a strong candidate for the
rotation. He pitched four shutout innings in his second start at
Texas on Saturday.
“Not something that’s unfamiliar for me,” he said of starting. “I
started all my minor league career, so in terms of routine I
probably know this one a little bit better than my relief one right
now.”
Smith went right into Chicago's rotation during spring training — an
unusual spot for a Rule 5 player. Since 2016, Luis Perdomo, Brad
Keller and Mitch Spence are the only pitchers who made at least 20
starts in the majors in the season after they were selected in the
big league phase of the Rule 5 draft.
Keller began the 2018 season in Kansas City's bullpen before moving
into the rotation in late May. He finished his rookie year with a
9-6 record and a 3.08 ERA in 20 starts and 21 relief appearances.
“I think you definitely pull for all the Rule 5 guys because I feel
like, not to say this in a bad way, but Rule 5 guys kind of get a
bad rap, right?" said Keller, a key reliever for the Chicago Cubs.
"It's like they're like nobody's got a chance. That's not true. Some
organizations are in different situations where they can't protect
guys that they want to.”
Smith had been in Milwaukee's organization since he signed with the
Brewers as an undrafted free agent in 2021, just weeks after he had
Tommy John surgery. He had a 3.05 ERA in 32 appearances over two
minor league stops last season, finishing the year with Triple-A
Nashville.
Smith has a big four-seam fastball that gets into the high 90s, to
go along with a good slider and curveball. But the biggest key to
his success this year has been the development of a nasty changeup
that really came together in the offseason after years of work.
Fortunate timing for Smith and the White Sox.
“For a guy that hasn’t really pitched above Double-A, he had some
innings in Triple-A, but to come here and pitch the way that he
does, it just speaks to his ability and his confidence and also
speaks to the group of players and staff here to support him,”
general manager Chris Getz said. "Shane is doing really well and we
expect him to have a really productive, healthy season for us.”
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