The White Sox are in a different place now, and that’s why Noah Schultz’s latest outing carries more weight than a typical rookie hiccup.
Schultz, 22, was back on the mound Tuesday night against the Boston Red Sox after returning from the IL last week in Baltimore. He had already made eight starts earlier in the season before a flare up of the knee tendonitis he dealt with last season sent him to the shelf. This was his first home start since coming back, and it didn’t give the White Sox the kind of answer they were hoping for.
The line has not been kind to him through his first two starts off the IL. After giving up two home runs to the team ranked dead last in home runs this season, Schultz pushed his ERA to 6.00 across his first ten big league starts.
The bigger issue has been the same one that has followed him for much of his early run in the majors: shaky command. He’s had a few solid outings, but too often the strikes haven’t been there consistently, and when they are, hitters have still been able to do damage.
That part of the story isn’t unusual. Rookie pitchers often need time to settle in, and Schultz’s build makes repeating his delivery even trickier.
He’s only been in the big leagues for less than two months, and he has a strong track record in the minors. Long term, there’s no reason to panic.
Right now, though, the White Sox have to think about something else entirely.
During a different stretch, the answer would be simple: keep him in the rotation and let him work through it. But this isn’t one of those seasons.
The White Sox are no longer playing for development alone. They’re in first place more than halfway through the year, and the goal has shifted to winning the division.
That means the rotation has to be dependable, and Schultz hasn’t given them that yet.
Nobody is talking about giving up on him. Pulling the plug on a top pitching prospect after ten starts would be a massive mistake. But a trip back to Charlotte to sharpen his command is a perfectly normal next step, and one the White Sox may need to consider if this keeps going the wrong way.
The trade deadline is closing in, and Chicago could try to bring in veteran pitching help. Schultz’s spot in the rotation may be the first one they look to upgrade if they make a move. If they can’t find the right arm on the market, they do have other options waiting.
David Sandlin had a rough first look in the majors, but he was sharp in a spot start against the Royals. Mason Adams has been pitching well in Charlotte while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
Shane Smith is building his pitch count back up after a shoulder injury and is trying to get back to his 2025 All-Star form. Any mix of those three could help hold things down until Schultz finds his rhythm again.
The White Sox have reached the stage where every choice matters a little more. Noah Schultz still has the upside that made him such an important part of their future, but the present demands something steadier. That’s the hard part of the conversation now.
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