The Chicago White Sox are giving fans a sneak peek at the future this spring, inviting three of their top prospects - Braden Montgomery, Noah Schultz, and Hagen Smith - to major league Spring Training. All three are ranked inside MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, and while none are expected to break camp with the big league roster, their presence in Glendale is a sign of where this franchise is headed.
Let’s break down what each of these young talents brings to the table - and what needs to happen for them to make a serious push toward the South Side.
Noah Schultz: Electric Stuff, But Still a Work in Progress
Noah Schultz might be the furthest from the Opening Day roster right now, but don’t let that fool you - his upside is as high as anyone in the system. The 6-foot-9 lefty from Naperville has the kind of stuff that can make hitters look silly: a fastball that touches 99 mph, a heavy two-seamer that eats up barrels, a fading changeup in the upper 80s, and a slider that breaks in the opposite direction of the change. It’s a deep, deceptive mix that earned him Southern League Pitcher of the Year honors in 2024, when he struck out 73 and walked just 17.
But 2025 wasn’t quite the same story.
He started the year solidly at Double-A Birmingham, posting a 3.34 ERA over 12 starts. That earned him a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte - and that’s where the wheels wobbled. Schultz was limited to just 16 1/3 innings across five starts, and the results weren’t pretty: a 9.34 ERA and a noticeable dip in consistency.
The good news? The tools are still there.
Schultz hasn’t yet thrown 100 innings in a professional season, so this spring is more about development than competition. Expect the White Sox to take it slow with him - and rightfully so.
If he can stay healthy and get a full season under his belt, don’t be surprised if he’s knocking on the door by season’s end.
Hagen Smith: Swing-and-Miss Stuff, Searching for Consistency
Like Schultz, left-hander Hagen Smith has the kind of raw tools that can fast-track a pitching prospect. And on paper, his 2025 season looks solid: 3.57 ERA, 108 strikeouts in 75 2/3 innings, and opponents hit just .166 against him in Double-A.
But dig a little deeper, and the picture gets murkier.
Smith’s fastball lost a couple ticks last year, and his command wavered throughout the season. His once-nasty slider - a pitch that used to dive out of the zone and generate plenty of whiffs - started hanging over the plate too often, leading to more contact and fewer chase swings. He still racked up strikeouts, but not without laboring through innings and racking up pitch counts.
There’s still a lot to like here. Smith has the frame, the mechanics, and the mentality to be a big-league starter.
But like Schultz, he’s not ready for that leap just yet. Spring Training will be a valuable test for him - facing major league hitters, working with the big-league staff, and continuing to refine his command.
If he can regain some of that lost velocity and sharpen his breaking stuff, he could be in the mix later in the year.
Braden Montgomery: The Most MLB-Ready of the Trio
Among the three, Braden Montgomery is the name to watch most closely this spring. A switch-hitting outfielder with power, speed, and a cannon for an arm, Montgomery has the tools to be a difference-maker in Chicago’s outfield - and the opportunity might be there sooner than later.
Let’s be honest: the White Sox outfield depth chart is in flux. Veterans like Andrew Benintendi and LaMonte Wade Jr. are holding down spots, but neither is a long-term solution.
Former top prospects like Jarred Kelenic and Everson Pereira are still trying to find consistency. And behind them?
A mix of fringe players and minor-league flyers.
That opens the door - at least slightly - for Montgomery, who slashed .270/.360/.444 with 12 home runs, 68 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases in 448 at-bats last season. But the path isn’t clear-cut.
Injuries have slowed his development, including a fractured ankle in 2024 and a fractured foot that cut short his 2025 campaign. He’s played just 121 professional games, and throwing him into the fire as an everyday right fielder might be a stretch - especially for a team not expected to contend in 2026.
Still, Montgomery has the kind of profile that can force a front office’s hand. If he comes into camp healthy and rakes against big-league arms, he could make things interesting. Even if he doesn’t break camp with the team, it feels like only a matter of time before he’s patrolling the outfield at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The Big Picture
For the White Sox, this spring isn’t just about preparing for Opening Day - it’s about laying the groundwork for the next wave of talent. Schultz, Smith, and Montgomery all represent key pieces of the rebuild puzzle, and while none are likely to be in Chicago come March, their development will be one of the most important storylines to follow throughout the season.
If you’re a Sox fan looking for reasons to be hopeful, it starts right here.