Chicago White Sox starter Shane Smith reflects on a ‘pretty crazy' and ‘really special' All-Star experience

Chicago Tribune

2 days ago

PITTSBURGH — Chicago White Sox starter Shane Smith found out he would be making an appearance in the All-Star Game after the last out of the sixth inning.
'I got hot in the sixth and I thought I was going to get in the sixth and they said no,' Smith said Friday afternoon. 'Then I kind of cooled down for a little bit. And then they were like, 'You're out there, you've got an out. Go get an out.''
Smith faced two batters and did get one out while pitching during the bottom of the eighth for the American League on Tuesday at Truist Park in Atlanta.
'Definitely a different buzz to it, especially coming out of the bullpen,' Smith said of being on the mound for the All-Star Game compared to a regular-season matchup. 'You warm up, it's kind of like a quick phone call, you get some butterflies and it's like, 'Hey, you're going to be in the game here in eight or 10 minutes.'
'You don't have days (of) notice. So definitely some butterflies for that one than a regular.'
Smith discussed the entire All-Star experience a few hours before the Sox returned from the break to begin a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
'Pretty crazy,' the rookie said. 'All of the other stuff with the red carpet and Home Run Derby was really cool. Just to try to sit around and enjoy the time with those guys. Obviously the time in the clubhouse is really nice to talk with those guys and get to know them a little bit. The All-Star Game is really special.
'I talked to a lot of guys in the AL Central because that was where our locker was. I think getting to know those guys on a little more personal level was pretty cool. Just eating lunch with the best players in the game was probably my favorite part. (Just) seeing them around and talking some pitching, talking about the state of the league and what that looks like for us was my favorite part.'
As for the game, Smith worked with Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk.
'I didn't get to talk to him a ton beforehand,' he said. 'I made sure to throw everything in the warmups and I was like, 'Do you want to talk?' And he's like, he gave me signs like 1-2-3 and I was like, 'Yep, that works.' And we kind of went from there.'
Smith hit the first batter of the inning, Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez.
'I know I hit him (during the regular season) too,' Smith said. 'I felt terrible about it. Same spot too. Hands are tricky. I tried to say I'm sorry to him. I talked to (San Francisco Giants pitcher) Logan Webb a little bit about it, I saw him later. He was like, 'It's going to be all right. He probably doesn't like you too much.'
'Trust me, that's the last thing I wanted to do, especially hit somebody, especially in the All-Star Game. And he's having a great year. And I've heard only good things about him. If I could ever get a chance to talk to him, I would apologize. If there's anything I could get him that he doesn't already have, I'd get it for him. Hopefully he doesn't hate me too much. But he probably does and I understand if he does.'
Smith rebounded to get James Wood of the Washington Nationals to ground into a forceout.
'I just didn't want to walk somebody after (hitting Suárez), especially,' Smith said. 'Try to get an out and hopefully put my team in a position for that comeback that they made.'
Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre, an honorary AL coach, then walked to the mound to take Smith out of the game. Smith said he had 'no idea' Torre would be part of his exit.
'He said, 'Way to bounce back,' and gave some words of encouragement as I walked off,' Smith said.
Sox manager Will Venable liked what he saw from Smith in the outing.
'I thought he did great and I was glad Suárez didn't break any bones there,' Venable said. 'I thought he did great. Represented our club well and glad he got in some action.'
Smith was a part of All-Star history. According to Elias, Smith became the second player since at least 2000 to become an All-Star in the season after being selected in the Rule 5 draft. He joined Dan Uggla, who earned his first All-Star selection in 2006 with the Marlins.
With the All-Star festivities complete, Smith is ready to return to the mound for the Sox. He's slated to pitch at some point during the upcoming road series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
'Really focusing on making sure I'm doing everything I did at the beginning (of the season),' Smith said. 'Whether it's midweek work, bullpen, training room. Just making sure I'm putting my best foot forward. Just want to get back on a roll again, start getting consistent outings.'