White Sox Promote Hagen Smith and Tanner McDougal Amid Four-Game Losing Streak

The first-place Chicago White Sox have called up 22-year-old pitchers Hagen Smith and Tanner McDougal from Triple-A Charlotte to refresh a depleted bullpen.

The Chicago White Sox have promoted 22-year-old left-hander Hagen Smith and 22-year-old right-hander Tanner McDougal from Triple-A Charlotte to the active roster. This move comes as the club attempts to snap a season-high four-game losing streak while maintaining a two-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins in the American League Central. Smith, the No. 5 overall selection in the 2024 draft, arrives in Chicago after posting a 4.32 ERA across 20 minor league appearances. Though he logged 14 starts in the minors, the organization recently transitioned him to a relief role to prepare for this major league stint.

McDougal, a 2021 fifth-round pick, joins the bullpen following 15 appearances at Triple-A Charlotte where he maintained a 2.86 ERA. His minor league workload this season included six starts. Both prospects are expected to make their MLB debuts in their next game appearances to support a pitching staff exhausted by recent scheduling and tactical errors. The bullpen logged heavy innings during a 13-inning contest against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday and was forced into early action during Friday’s matchup against the Guardians.

Roster Adjustments and 40-Man Changes

To facilitate these promotions, the White Sox designated right-hander Winkleman Gonzalez for assignment, clearing the necessary spot on the 40-man roster for Smith. Correspondingly, the team optioned pitchers Noah Schultz and David Sandlin back to Triple-A Charlotte. Sandlin’s demotion follows a performance where he provided 5.1 innings of relief, a necessary contribution after the starter was removed in the opening frame. The team prioritized fresh arms after the high volume of pitches required over the last 48 hours of play.

Managerial Error Leads to Schultz Exit

Noah Schultz was sent down after a difficult stint that saw him post a 3-9 record and a 6.60 ERA over 15 appearances. His final start on Friday ended prematurely due to a procedural mistake by manager Will Venable. During a high-stress first inning, pitching coach Zach Bove visited Schultz on the mound; minutes later, Venable made a second trip to the rubber. Under MLB rules, a second mound visit in the same inning necessitates an automatic pitching change. Consequently, Schultz was forced out of the game after throwing only 23 pitches.

Bullpen Workload and Division Standings

The infusion of Smith and McDougal is a direct response to a depleted relief corps. The combination of the extra-innings loss to Boston and the first-inning exit of the starter on Friday left the Chicago staff thin. Despite the recent four-game slide, the White Sox remain at the top of the American League Central. The promotion of these two 22-year-old prospects represents a strategic shift to stabilize the pitching staff as the team enters Saturday's action looking to protect their narrow divisional advantage over Cleveland and Minnesota.