Bay State natives Shane Smith and Mike Vasil look like two Rule 5 hits for the rebuilding White Sox

Boston Globe

8 hours ago

There sure was.
Smith, who grew up in Danvers and attended Governor's Academy, has turned into a pleasant surprise for the last-place White Sox after he was selected by the team in the Rule 5 draft. The White Sox also have Mike Vasil, another 25-year-old Rule 5 right-hander from Wellesley and BC Highwho was claimed off waivers from the Rays in March.
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The Rule 5 draft provides an opportunity for players left off big league team's 40-man rosters after several minor league seasons. Teams pay $100,000 to select a player in the major league portion. The players must stay on the active 26-man major league roster all season or else clear waivers and be offered back to their original organization for $50,000.
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Between 10 and 20 players are selected in the big league Rule 5 draft most seasons, but most don't actually stick with their new clubs. Even fewer develop into All-Star-worthy contributors. Hall of Fame outfielder Roberto Clemente and two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana are two of the most famous Rule 5 success stories.
So far, it looks as if Smith and Vasil are going to stick with the rebuilding White Sox — quite an accomplishment for an organization from one Rule 5 draft. Smith has a 2.37 ERA in 68⅓ innings over 13 starts, and Vasil has a 1.99 ERA in 45⅓ innings over 20 appearances, all but two in relief.
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'Obviously Mike and I are, I think, putting our best foot forward as of now,' Smith said. 'The biggest thing we can do is just keep it going, keep doing the same stuff.'
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Smith or Vasil very well could represent the last-place White Sox at next month's All-Star Game in Atlanta. Dan Uggla with the Marlins in 2006 is the only player to be named an All-Star in the season after he was selected in the Rule 5 draft, according to Sportradar.
Being a Rule 5 player is a unique situation in that first year, but Vasil said he doesn't think about it very often.
'I've spent my whole life trying to get here,' he said. 'So I think it's already hard enough, don't put more pressure on yourself.'
The 6-foot-5-inch Vasil was selected by the Mets in the eighth round of the 2021 amateur draft out of the University of Virginia. He was picked by the Phillies in the Rule 5 draft in December and then traded that same day to the Rays for cash.
The White Sox are Vasil's fourth organization since the end of last season.
'It's a lot,' he said. 'But I think for me, at the same time, I guess you could say you feel wanted by a lot of different teams.'
The White Sox moved Wellesley native Mike Vasil from the bullpen into the rotation earlier this month.
LM Otero/Associated Press
Vasil began the season in Chicago's bullpen, recording a 1.89 ERA in his first 18 appearances. He got his first career win when he pitched 2⅓ scoreless innings against the Astros on May 4 and his first save when he got three outs at Cincinnati on May 14.
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But Vasil's six-pitch arsenal — highlighted by an effective sinker and sweeper — makes him a strong candidate for the rotation. He pitched four shutout innings in his second start at Texas on Saturday.
'Not something that's unfamiliar for me,' he said of starting. 'I started all my minor league career, so in terms of routine I probably know this one a little bit better than my relief one right now.'
Smith went right into Chicago's rotation during spring training — an unusual spot for a Rule 5 player. Since 2016, Luis Perdomo, Brad Keller, and Mitch Spence are the only pitchers who made at least 20 starts in the majors in the season after they were selected in the big league phase of the Rule 5 draft.
Keller began the 2018 season in the Royals' bullpen before moving into the rotation in late May. He finished his rookie year with a 9-6 record and a 3.08 ERA in 20 starts and 21 relief appearances.
'I think you definitely pull for all the Rule 5 guys because I feel like, not to say this in a bad way, but Rule 5 guys kind of get a bad rap, right?' said Keller, a key reliever for the Cubs. 'It's like they're like nobody's got a chance. That's not true. Some organizations are in different situations where they can't protect guys that they want to.'
Smith had been in Milwaukee's organization since he signed with the Brewers as an undrafted free agent in 2021, just weeks after he had Tommy John surgery. He had a 3.05 ERA in 32 appearances over two minor league stops last season, finishing the year with Triple A Nashville.
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Smith has a big four-seam fastball that gets into the high 90s, to go along with a good slider and curveball. But the biggest key to his success this year has been the development of a nasty changeup that really came together in the offseason after years of work.
Fortunate timing for Smith and the White Sox.
'For a guy that hasn't really pitched above Double A, he had some innings in Triple A, but to come here and pitch the way that he does, it just speaks to his ability and his confidence and also speaks to the group of players and staff here to support him,' White Sox general manager Chris Getz said. 'Shane is doing really well and we expect him to have a really productive, healthy season for us.'