SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Right-hander Shane Smith, All-Star, has a different ring than Shane Smith, Rule 5 Draft pick. That’s the difference between now and a year ago, when Smith was making his first appearance in a White Sox uniform during spring training trying to prove he deserved a spot on the roster.
On Monday, Smith made his first start of the spring — and it wasn’t pretty as he failed to finish the first inning after racking up 25 pitches to six batters — knowing exactly where he stands.
“He understands that he’s a dude on this team,” manager Will Venable said Monday. “Last year he came trying to prove he was a dude on this team. Going through that year, the expectations change for him now. But there’s the added obligation of being a leader on this club. Guys look at him and follow his lead. He’s somebody who is going to take that challenge on.”
The challenge Monday for Smith, who hit two batters, walked one and allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits while recording five outs was throwing strikes. Smith pitched a complete second inning and afterward, he recalled being bad in his first start last spring before impressing the rest of camp.
Smith (7-8) would go on to make 29 starts and pitch to a 3.81 ERA last season with 145 strikeouts over 146⅓ innings. Posting a 2.37 ERA in his first 13 starts helped build a case to become the lone representative on what would be a 102-loss team and one of two Rule 5 players along with second baseman Dan Uggla in 2006 to make an All-Star team.
This spring feels different knowing he doesn’t have to impress every time out to win a job.
“It’s nerves, it’s mechanics, it’s moving at game speed for the first time in a while,” he said.
“The pressure on yourself is different. Every day still matters obviously but it’s just what do I want to work on today that’s going to set me up better for maybe five weeks from now, six weeks from now rather than my next outing has to be perfect in order to do it.”
Montgomery scratched
Shortstop Colson Montgomery was scratched due to illness, Venable said.
“He went out there and got his workout in [Monday morning]. Just not feeling well,” Venable said. “He’s out with an illness. He wanted to play. We thought this time in the year, just better to let him get hydrated and recover.”
Will loves Will
William Bergolla Jr., who made a flashy impression last spring before batting .286/.342./333 with no homers and 40 stolen bases at Double-A Birmingham, had a start at shortstop fall into his lap.
“I don’t know if I’m supposed to say this, but he’s one of our favorites,” Venable said. “He’s a guy last year that we were really excited to have him come over. It seemed like he made every single play, got big hits, great defensively and just has an incredible feel for the game. Really excited he’s in camp with us now.”
Bergolla added weight and perhaps some power in the offseason.
“Which is something that’s going to be huge for him because he really does everything else really well,” Venable said. “Just has to add a little more pop in there. But he’s a fun one to watch.”