Noah Schultz is giving the White Sox a reason to believe again.
That wasn’t the case not long ago. After the All-Star break, Schultz’s season went sideways fast, and the White Sox decided the best move was to send him back to Triple-A Charlotte. It was a necessary reset for a team trying to stay alive in an unexpected postseason push, even if it meant losing a pitcher who had at least offered flashes of quality and some much-needed length in a rotation that badly needed it.
The move to the minors seems to have helped. Schultz made five starts for the Knights and was sharp throughout, posting a 1.66 ERA over 21.2 innings while striking out 10 batters. He also walked seven, but those runners rarely turned into damage.
With September bringing a slump and the bullpen getting worn down, the White Sox brought him back. This time, they didn’t rush him into a starter’s workload. That choice made sense, especially with the rotation producing the fewest innings of any team.
Schultz returned on Sept. 16 and was perfect over two innings against the Cleveland Guardians. In Saturday’s win over the Detroit Tigers, he followed with 1.2 shutout innings, four strikeouts and no walks.
Two outings don’t prove a full turnaround. But they do give the White Sox something they badly need: hope that their former top pitching prospect has found his footing again.
The timing matters, too. The Sox have lost control of the AL Central race and are hanging onto the final wild-card spot. Every clean inning counts now, and Schultz doesn’t have to rescue the season by himself to matter.
If he can keep giving them scoreless work in the final week, that alone would be a major boost. The bigger dream is still the one that made him such a prized arm in the first place. For now, though, the White Sox would happily take a few more outings just like these.
In Other News...
White Sox Bullpen Picture Just Got More Complicated Before First Pitch
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The timing matters because the White Sox were already headed into the day with a fresh look on the mound and a lineup card in hand once the weather clears. Troy Melton is the scheduled starter for Detroit, and his recent work adds another layer to a game that was supposed to be a clean matchup before the delay complicated everything, including how Chicago manages the innings if the tarp comes off later than expected. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Affiliate Offers Late Reminder The System Still Has Life
The White Sox may still be focused on the big-league picture, but Charlotte offered a useful reminder that the organization has some depth worth watching. The Knights beat Norfolk 10-6 on Wednesday to grab their second win of the series, and the offense kept the pressure on from the start with 12 hits and five extra-base hits. Mario Camilletti paced the lineup with four RBIs, while Tyler Gilbert handled three innings on the mound as part of a staff effort that gave up six runs but still kept the game in control.
For a system that has spent plenty of time under a microscope, nights like this matter because they show more than one prospect or one arm can carry a club. Pierce George picked up his first Triple-A win, a small milestone that fits into a larger picture of a farm team trying to stack competitive performances. The series still has another layer to it, but Charlotte at least gave the White Sox a reminder that some of the group beneath the majors is still pushing in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Just Sent A Clear Message About Murakamis Future
Munetaka Murakamis first season in Chicago has not changed the White Soxs long-term view of him, but it has slowed the timetable. The club remains interested in keeping the slugger beyond his current deal, and general manager Chris Getz has openly acknowledged that conversations about an extension are ongoing, yet the Sox are not rushing to lock anything in while Murakami works through a slump.
Murakami is already under contract through 2027 after signing a two-year deal before the season, which gives both sides some breathing room. For now, Chicago appears content to let the bat settle first and revisit the bigger-picture contract discussion later, a clear sign that the front office likes the fit but is willing to wait for better performance before making a long-term commitment. [Read more 🡒]