From Arkansas ace to South Side southpaw
Hagen Smith
Left-Handed Starting Pitcher
6´3´´
235 pounds
Age: 21
First appearance among the South Side Sox Top 100 Prospects
2024 High Level Winston-Salem (High-A)
Age relative to high level -3.0 years
SSS rank among all left-handed starters in the system 2
Overall 2024 stats 0-1 ⚾️ 3 games (3 starts) ⚾️ 7 2⁄3 IP ⚾️ 3.52 ERA (MiLB) ⚾️ 1.174 WHIP ⚾️ 7 K ⚾️ 2 BB ⚾️ 0.1 Simple WAR
The White Sox are pinning high hopes on their latest first round draft pick, southpaw Hagen Smith. Selected fifth overall in the 2024 MLB draft, the lefty comes to the organization with quite an impressive baseball pedigree. After the draft, Smith quickly became one of the top arms in the system (MLB’s No. 3) and is recognized as the second-best lefthander in the minors by MLB Pipeline (overall No. 34).
The 21-year-old spent three years pitching for the University of Arkansas, where he quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in the SEC, arguably the most dominant conference in college baseball. His career there was marked by an exceptional ability to generate strikeouts, so much so that Smith left the program as their all-time career strikeout leader (360). He earned various accolades during his last year as a Razorback, including the 2024 National Pitcher of the Year and the SEC Pitcher of the Year.
Smith features a funky delivery of a four-seam fastball that sits around 94-97 mph, but can sometimes top out around 100 mph. However, his best pitch is a devastating 83-87 mph slider that paralyzes lefties with its horizontal and vertical action, but it is also effective against righties. He compliments both of those 65-grade pitches with an average splitter, which he’s still working on controlling consistently, but when it’s tumbling effectively, it can generate swings-and-misses.
After the draft, Smith started his professional career at High-A Winston-Salem. With the Dash, he went 0-1 in three starts with a 3.52 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with two walks and seven strikeouts over 7 2⁄3 innings. Chicago invited the lefty to Spring Training this year, and he was impressive in his first two appearances: Three innings of shutout ball, surrendering only one hit while walking three and striking out four. The outings weren’t flawless by any means, but he demonstrated grit on the mound with the ability to pitch out of a few jams. Appearance No. 3, his final one of Cactus League play, didn’t go so well, so let’s just drop it there.
Hagen Smith’s Baseball Cube player ratings
Strikeouts 93
Hittable 90
vs. Power 90
Durability 77
K/BB 75
Walks 44
Average 78.17
The road to the big leagues is never guaranteed, but Smith seems to have all the tools and the temperament to succeed. As he progresses through the White Sox minor league system, the focus should be on his development and not a rush to the South Side. As evidenced by how Getz and Co. have handled fellow lefthander Noah Schultz, they will have the same approach with Smith. Word out of camp is that Smith will likely start with Double-A Birmingham, but don’t rule out a late-season call-up to Chicago.
2025 South Side Sox Top 100 White Sox Prospects
2. Hagen Smith, LHSP
3. Edgar Quero, C
4. Colson Montgomery, SS
5. Kyle Teel, C
6. Braden Montgomery, RF
7. Jairo Iriarte, RHRP
8. Mason Adams, RHSP
9. Grant Taylor, RHSP
10. George Wolkow, RF
11. Bryan Ramos, 3B
12. Brooks Baldwin, SS
13. Chase Meidroth, SS
14. Ky Bush, LHSP
15. Jeral Perez, SS
16. Jacob Gonzalez, SS
17. Caleb Bonemer, SS
18. Wikelman Gonzalez, RHSP
19. Aldrin Batista, RHSP
20. Sean Burke, RHSP
21. Nick Nastrini, RHSP
22. Blake Larson, LHSP
23. Tyler Schweitzer, LHSP
24. Alexander Albertus, 3B
25. Wilfred Veras, RF
26. Seth Keener, RHSP
27. William Bergolla, 2B
28. Samuel Zavala, CF
29. Peyton Pallette, RHRP
30. Jake Eder, LHSP
31. Juan Carela, RHSP
32. Javier Mogollón, SS
33. Nick McLain, RF
34. Ronny Hernandez, C
35. Casey Saucke, RF
36. Eric Adler, RHRP
37. Rikuu Nishida, 2B
38. Shane Smith, RHSP
39. Tim Elko, 1B
40. Zach DeLoach, LF
41. Riley Gowens, RHSP
42. Prelander Berroa, RHRP
43. Sam Antonacci, 2B
44. Adisyn Coffey, RHRP
45. Jarold Rosado, RHRP
46. Ryan Galanie, 1B
47. Trey McGough, LHRP
48. Ricardo Brizuela, RHSP
49. Lucas Gordon, LHSP
50. Aaron Combs, RHRP (traded to Phillies on January 1)
51. DJ Gladney, RF
52. Abraham Núñez, CF
53. Andre Lipcius, 1B
54. Shawn Goosenberg, 1B
55. Caden Connor, 1B
56. Mario Camilletti, 2B
57. Jake Peppers, RHSP
58. Ryan Burrowes, SS
59. Garrett Schoenle, LHRP
60. Jackson Appel, C
61. Tommy Vail, LHSP
62. Bryce Collins, RHRP
63. Tanner McDougal, RHSP
64. Stiven Flores, C
65. T.J. McCants, CF
66. Gil Luna, LHRP
67. Fraser Ellard, LHRP
68. Zach Franklin, RHRP
69. Drew Dalquist, RHRP
70. Nick Altermatt, RHRP
71. Carson Jacobs, RHRP
72. Alec Makarewicz, 1B
73. Jacob Burke, CF
74. Calvin Harris, C
75. Terrell Tatum, CF
76. Phil Fox, RHRP
77. Reudis Diaz, RHSP
78. Jurdrick Profar, SS
79. Drew McDaniel, RHSP
80. Michael Turner, C
81. Caleb Freeman, RHRP
82. Braden Shewmake, SS (designated for assignment on January 1, claimed by Royals)
83. Connor McCullough, RHSP
84. Shane Murphy, LHSP
85. Mikey Kane, 1B
86. Daniel González, LHRP
87. Wes Kath, 3B
88. Pierce George, RHRP
89. Tristan Stivors, RHRP
90. Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, RHRP
91. Chase Plymell, RHRP
92. Eddie Park, CF
93. Loidel Chapelli, 2B
94. Adam Hackenberg, C
95. Adrian Gil, 1B
96. Jared Kelley, RHRP
97. Lyle Miller-Green, 1B
98. Marcelo Alcala, RF
99. Drake Logan, LF
100. Cole McConnell, CF