North Shore native Shane Smith has shined on the South Side. Now the rookie will make history representing the White Sox at the 2025 MLB All-Star Game
CHICAGO — When Danvers native and former Governors Academy standout Shane Smith was taken by the Chicago White Soxfrom the Milwaukee Brewers organization first overall in the 2024 MLB Rule 5 Draft in December, the pitcher’s future seemed unknown, but promising.
Six months later, the 25-year-old from the North Shore has thrived on the South Side, going from making his MLB debut on April 1 to establishing himself as the ace of the White Sox rotation. On Sunday, the rookie added one more accolade to impressive debut campaign: being named to the American League roster for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, set to take place in Atlanta on July 15.
"Grateful is an understatement," Smith said to his teammates in a video posted to X by the team Sunday. "A year ago, this isn't where I pictured myself, but to be here with you guys and do it like this has been incredible."
Smith becomes the first rookie pitcher in White Sox history to be selected as an All-Star and just the second player in MLB history to do so the season after being taken in the Rule 5 Draft, after Florida (now Miami) Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla made the 2006 All-Star Game after being selected from the Arizona Diamondbacks organization in the 2005 Rule 5 Draft.
After impressing in Spring Training, Smith made the White Sox starting rotation just before the start of the season and made his MLB debut against the Minnesota Twins, going 5⅔ innings giving up a pair of runs on a pair of hits and 4 walks while striking out 3 in a no-decision. Since then, he's gone a combined 3-7 in 17 starts with a 4.20 ERA, striking out 76 in 83⅔ innings for Chicago, including a season-best 7 strikeouts in 6 shutout innings against the Marlins on May 10.
While 11 of the 39 earned runs Smith has surrendered came in his last 2 starts, Smith still has the second-best ERA among all American League rookie starters pitchers. He is the lone representative for the White Sox at this year's All-Star Game, with the South Siders sitting at the bottom of the American League with a 30-60 record through their first 90 games.
Smith made a name early for himself in Danvers, playing a key role in Danvers American Little League winning the 2012 District 15 title. From there, he'd go on to star on the diamond and gridiron at The Governor's Academy in Byfield before moving on to Wake Forest University in Virginia, where he struck out 19 in 10⅓ innings of work largely out of the bullpen for the Demon Deacons. He underwent Tommy John surgery during the 2021 season, then signed with the Brewers as an undrafted free agent following the 2021 MLB Draft.
In 3 seasons in the Brewers organization, Smith went 13-7 with 11 saves in 73 appearances, giving up 47 earned runs on 112 hits and 53 walks while striking out 203 in 157 innings of work. He split the 2024 season between the AA Biloxi Shuckers and the AAA Nashville Sounds, going a combined 6-3 with a career-best 113 strikeouts while largely serving as a starter.
Smith made his Fenway Park debut on April 19, going 4⅔ innings giving up a pair of runs on 5 hits and a pair of walks while striking out 3 for a no-decision in an eventual 4-3 loss to the Red Sox. He earned his first MLB win on June 3 against the Detroit Tigers, going 5⅓ shutout innings giving up 3 hits and a pair of walks while striking out 6.
He's slated to make one more start before the All-Star break on July 11 against the Cleveland Guardians. The 2025 MLB All-Star Game will take place on July 15 at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. with the game being broadcast nationally on FOX.
As for the Red Sox, third baseman Alex Bregman, starting pitcher Garrett Crochet and relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman have been chosen to represent Boston and the American League at the Midsummer Classic.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Danvers native Shane Smith selected for 2025 MLB All-Star Game
Category: Baseball
