Smith (left ankle sprain) on verge of return after successful live BP session
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CHICAGO -- Shane Smith threw a live batting practice session Saturday prior to the contest against the Cubs, with the lone White Sox All-Star testing the sprained left ankle that landed him on the 15-day injured list.
Smith threw somewhere around 55 pitches, with three ups, facing teammates Josh Rojas, Tim Elko and Brooks Baldwin.
“I think it went pretty well,” Smith said. “Good feel for the stuff. It’s really cool to face our guys. I can get an insight into what they are doing and what they see a little bit easier.
“Yeah, it felt good to be back on the bump. The soreness is pretty much gone. I threw a bullpen the other day and it felt pretty good. Today, I didn’t feel anything.”
Another bullpen is next up for the right-hander. If all continues to go well, Smith is hoping to return to the White Sox without a Minor League injury rehab assignment.
“If everything they saw and everything I feel feels good, I hope they give me the OK to go ahead,” Smith said.
“We're going to map that out here,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “I'm not sure if it's going to be another live BP or a rehab assignment. Just evaluating him afterward and building a plan will be kind of the next step this afternoon. Shane looked good. The shapes of his pitches were good, he was in the zone, and most importantly, he came out of it feeling good."
With Smith sitting at 86 2/3 innings over 18 starts, he’s quickly approaching his single-season high of 94 1/3 innings set last year in the Brewers' Minor League system. The White Sox will be cognizant of his workload down the stretch, but this injury respite might end up as a silver lining for the rookie and top pick in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft, who didn’t have much time off during the All-Star break.
“Sure, I think it can be,” said Smith, who has a 4.26 ERA and 81 strikeouts. “That’s all I’m trying to do. Make sure the body is in the right spot, and make sure the mechanics and delivery are in the right spot.
“I'm just hoping to get the ball every five days. If they want to give me an extra day like they did early on, they can. But no restraints being put on."