Let’s be real for a second. If you look at the Chicago South Side right now, the term "ace" feels like a bit of a reach. We’re coming off a 2025 season where the team coughed up 102 losses—a slight improvement from the historic 121-loss catastrophe of 2024, sure, but still a long way from a champagne celebration. When people search for white sox ace baseball, they’re usually looking for a savior. They want the next Chris Sale or Mark Buehrle.
But searching for an ace on a 60-win team is kinda like looking for a five-star meal at a gas station. You might find something surprisingly good, but you’ve gotta lower your expectations first.
Honestly, the biggest problem is that Garrett Crochet isn’t walking through that door anymore. He’s up in Boston winning 18 games and striking out 255 batters. Meanwhile, the Sox are left with a rotation that looks more like a "who’s that?" list than a "who’s who" of MLB talent.
The Search for the Next White Sox Ace Baseball Star
Right now, the "ace" by default is probably Shane Smith. If you haven't been paying attention to the farm system, Smith was a Rule 5 pick who basically came out of nowhere. In 2025, he was one of the few bright spots, putting up a respectable 142.2 innings. He’s got this weird sinker that falls off a cliff, and his velocity ticked up to 96 mph last year.
Is he an ace? Probably not in the traditional sense. ZiPS projections for 2026 suggest he’s more of a solid No. 2 or No. 3 starter. But on this roster, if you can go six innings without giving up a home run to every other batter, you’re the king of the mountain.
Then there’s Noah Schultz. He’s the 6'10" lefty that everyone is obsessed with. He’s basically a skyscraper on the mound. When he’s on, he looks like a left-handed Randy Johnson. But 2025 was rough for him. He struggled with a 9.37 ERA in his Triple-A starts and walked way too many guys. You can't be an ace if you're gifting free passes like it's a holiday charity event.
Why the Pitching Rotation is Such a Mess
The rotation is currently a revolving door of "let's see what happens." You’ve got guys like Sean Burke, Davis Martin, and Jonathan Cannon.
- Sean Burke: He’s got a decent curveball, but his walk rate is hovering around 10.6%. That's playing with fire.
- Davis Martin: A gritty RHP who survived 2025 with a 4.10 ERA. He’s the guy you want to eat innings, not necessarily the guy you want starting Game 1 of a playoff series.
- Hagen Smith: The 2024 first-rounder. He’s got the "wipeout" slider, but he also had some elbow trouble mid-season. Sox fans are collectively holding their breath every time he reaches for his arm.
It’s a weird time to be a fan. You’re looking at a roster where the highest-paid player, Andrew Benintendi, has basically been a replacement-level player for two years. When the offense isn't scoring, the pressure on the young arms is immense. Every mistake feels like a death sentence.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Ace" Label
We tend to think an ace has to be a Cy Young winner. In the world of white sox ace baseball, the definition is much simpler: Who is the guy the manager trusts when the losing streak hits five games?
Last year, that was occasionally Davis Martin. He wasn't flashy. He didn't throw 102 mph like Crochet. But he showed up. In a rebuild, "showing up" is the most valuable trait a pitcher can have.
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There's also a lot of talk about Grant Taylor. He’s coming off Tommy John surgery and has a 99 mph heater. The front office seems to think he’s a multi-inning reliever for 2026, but some analysts—the smart ones over at FanGraphs—think he has the ceiling of a frontline starter. If the Sox want to find a true ace, they might need to let Taylor loose in the rotation sooner rather than later.
The Munetaka Murakami Factor
You can't talk about the 2026 White Sox without mentioning Munetaka Murakami. The team finally opened the checkbook for the Japanese superstar. While he’s a third baseman, not a pitcher, his arrival changes the math for the pitching staff.
If Murakami hits 34 home runs (as projected by THE BAT X), the pitchers actually have a margin for error. Suddenly, giving up two runs in the first inning isn't an automatic loss. It's much easier to pitch like an ace when you aren't terrified of a single solo shot ruining your night.
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How to Actually Fix the Pitching Staff
If you’re running the White Sox, you can't just buy an ace. No top-tier free agent is signing with a 100-loss team unless you overpay by about $100 million. The path forward is internal development, which is historically where this franchise has struggled.
- Fix Noah Schultz’s Mechanics: At 6'10", his delivery is a nightmare to repeat. He needs to find a consistent release point or he’ll end up in the bullpen.
- Protect Hagen Smith: His elbow is the most valuable asset in the organization. If he needs another year in Double-A to stay healthy, take it.
- Find a Real Catcher: Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero are the future. Having a catcher who can actually frame a pitch and lead a staff is the "secret sauce" for turning a good pitcher into an ace.
The 2026 season isn't about winning the division. It's about finding out if any of these guys are real. By July, we’ll know if Shane Smith is a fluke or a foundation piece. We’ll see if the "ACE" youth organization—the White Sox's actual youth program—is finally starting to funnel high-level talent into the system.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
Stop looking for a 20-game winner. It’s not happening this year. Instead, watch the "swing and miss" rates for the young guys. If Noah Schultz can get his walk rate back under 4.0 per nine innings, he’s the real deal. If Hagen Smith’s slider continues to baffle Triple-A hitters, he’ll be in Chicago by the All-Star break.
The real white sox ace baseball story isn't about dominance right now; it's about survival. Keep an eye on the waiver wire too. Chris Getz has been aggressive with claims, and sometimes someone else’s "trash" becomes a rotation staple, much like Shane Smith did.
Don't buy into the hype of a "quick fix." This is a slow burn. The 2026 season is a 162-game audition for the 2027 rotation.
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- Monitor the IP/GS (Innings Pitched per Games Started) for Shane Smith; if he stays above 5.5, he’s a legitimate MLB starter.
- Check the MiLB box scores for Grant Taylor’s velocity. If it stays at 98-99 mph, he’s the future closer or a high-end starter.
- Watch how Munetaka Murakami handles MLB pitching; his offensive production is the only thing that will give these pitchers enough confidence to attack the strike zone.
Success in Chicago right now is measured in small steps. A 72-win season would be a massive victory. Finding one guy who can throw 180 innings with an ERA under 4.00? That’s the real goal.