DENVER — Shane Smith has made the remarkable journey from Rule 5 draft pick to All-Star.
The Chicago White Sox right-hander earned a spot on the American League roster, which was revealed Sunday afternoon.
He’ll be the team’s lone representative for the All-Star Game on July 15 in Atlanta.
“It’s pretty incredible,” Smith said. “It really hasn’t sunk in yet, I don’t think it will probably until I get there. But extremely grateful. The White Sox took a chance on me in the Rule 5 and to put a good 10, 11 starts together — obviously the last couple haven’t been great — I’m really thankful.”
Smith is 3-7 with a 4.20 ERA in 17 starts. He has 76 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings.
“This is a guy who came into spring training trying to make a club,” manager Will Venable said. “The whirlwind that that must have been for him and then he comes out and pitches like he does and finds himself on an All-Star team, it’s just an amazing story.
“Just extremely proud of him, proud of the organization, happy for everybody.”
Smith started Sunday’s series finale against the Colorado Rockies, allowing five runs on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks over 4 1/3 innings in the 6-4 loss in front of 25,662 at Coors Field.
The Rockies scored a run in the first and second innings. The Sox had a 4-2 lead in the fifth, but the Rockies tied it on a two-run triple by Mickey Moniak. Smith exited after retiring the next batter on a grounder to shortstop Colson Montgomery.
The Rockies went ahead later in the inning with a two-run home run by Michael Toglia against reliever Dan Altavilla.
Montgomery and Mike Tauchman each had two hits and one RBI in the loss. The Sox (30-60) had to settle for taking two of three in the series.
Smith said the outing “felt like a step in the right direction.”
“I don’t think the box score shows it,” he said. “I think I did some things well today. I feel better now than I did probably 20 innings ago. You get through that rough patch and then come out better on the other half.”
Smith learned of the All-Star honor before the game. He is one of 19 players earning their first All-Star nod.
Smith is the first rookie pitcher in Sox history to be selected to an All-Star team. He is the seventh Sox rookie to be named an All-Star, the first since first baseman José Abreu in 2014. According to Elias, Smith is the second player since at least 2000 to become an All-Star in the season after being selected in the Rule 5 draft. He joins Dan Uggla, who earned his first All-Star selection in 2006 with the Marlins.
“Just fighting for a roster spot in spring, to be in Atlanta in July is not something I envisioned or expected by any means,” Smith said. “Just to be able to put my best foot forward and have it work out well is incredible.”
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The Sox selected Smith with the top pick of the Rule 5 draft in December. He was previously in the Milwaukee Brewers system, going 13-7 with a 2.69 ERA and 203 strikeouts over three minor-league seasons.
Smith, 25, turned heads in spring training to gain a spot in the Sox rotation.
“What he showed in spring training and even his live BPs, it was like we’ve really got something special here,” Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz said.
One particular Cactus League outing, March 8 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, stood out. Smith struck out five over three scoreless innings, including Shohei Ohtani twice.
“The spring training outing against the Dodgers was kind of where I feel he kind of set the tone for what he was going to be,” Venable said. “That was the one that sticks out, like, ‘Oh, this dude is legit,’ and he’s just followed up ever since then with quality outings.”
Smith allowed two runs on two hits in 5 2/3 innings in his major-league debut on April 1 against the Minnesota Twins at Rate Field. He followed that up with six scoreless innings on April 8 at Cleveland.
Smith earned his first big-league win on April 24, allowing four hits in five scoreless innings against the Twins at Target Field.
He collected wins in back-to-back starts on June 3 against Detroit (three hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings) and June 10 at Houston (one run in six innings).
“He’s done a lot in his time here in adding the changeup, changing the cutter to a slider, he’s done a bunch of things well,” Katz said. “Also learning the league and having to face the best of the best and having some great outings, some great moments and some teaching moments as well.
“Each time he’s gone out there, he’s been able to show the development of changes that need to occur and also the development of still being able to compete at this level while being in a very unique situation.”
Smith did not allow more than three earned runs in any of his first 13 starts. The last four starts have been a bit bumpy for the rookie, who has allowed five-plus earned runs in each.
He took the positives from Sunday’s start on a day he’ll never forget.
“Unbelievable,” Smith said of his All-Star selection. “Really thankful. The last month doesn’t really feel like I deserve it, there’s a lot of guys in there that played really well over the stretch.
“Really thankful. Just going to do my best.”