Noah Schultz Makes a Strong Case for Being a Star in the Making
In such a short period of time, it’s hard not to think that Noah Schultz has already arrived. It almost seems too good to be true, especially considering how White Sox prospects usually take some time to adjust to the major leagues. But this young lefty, with his tall and lanky frame, is looking like an exception — perhaps even in the mold of another towering lefty who changed the course of Sox history.
On the field, Schultz delivered a strong performance in his second career start. He pitched five innings of one-run baseball, striking out six batters while walking just one. His ability to dominate the opposing lineup suggests there’s a lot more potential in store for the future.
The game started off on a positive note, with the White Sox scoring a manufactured run in the first inning thanks to Chase Meidroth and Edgar Quero. The team continued to build momentum with a towering home run from Derek Hill, which marked the beginning of a series of White Sox home runs:
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Miguel Vargas Finds His Groove
Another player who had a standout day was Miguel Vargas. Throughout the series against Tampa Bay, he struggled with his performance, as evidenced by a BABIP of just .161. However, today he finally found his rhythm, hitting a long ball to left field in the second inning that gave the Sox a four-run lead. Although his BABIP decreased slightly, this hit was crucial for the team’s early advantage.
Vargas’ performance highlights the importance of consistency at the plate. Despite his struggles, he continues to show that he can hit the ball hard, and it’s only a matter of time before he finds his groove again.
Schultz’s Command and Changeup Show Promise
During the game, there were some concerns about Schultz’s command of his breaking balls against right-handed hitters. In the game thread, I mentioned that he either needed to improve his breaking ball location or find a way to use his changeup more effectively. While he did throw the changeup more frequently, his breaking ball command still needs work, as seen in the pitch chart:
Despite these challenges, Schultz showed great control over other aspects of his game. His changeup drew six swings from right-handed hitters, three of which resulted in strikeouts. Overall, 30% of the swings against Schultz came up in the air during his five innings of work, contributing to just one run allowed.
However, there was a moment where his lack of command led to a run being scored. In the second inning, after leading 1-2 in the count, Schultz failed to locate his fastball or sweeper, allowing Darnell Hernaiz to capitalize on a 3-2 pitch.
Schultz’s Velocity and Effectiveness
Schultz’s high velocity last week may have been partly due to the adrenaline of his home debut. Today, he reached 97-98 mph a few times but settled into a more consistent range of 94-95 mph after the first inning. With his large frame and unique release point, this velocity was still enough to keep him effective through all five innings.
The White Sox offense provided a solid cushion for Schultz, allowing him to work comfortably through the game. Munetaka Murakami continued his impressive season with another home run, this time against Springs’ breaking ball:
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This home run made Murakami the team leader in home runs over their first 22 games, surpassing José Abreu’s record from 2014. Murakami now has eight homers on the year, tying with Jordan Walker and Aaron Judge for second in the majors.
A Strong Performance from the Bullpen
The bullpen also played a key role in securing the win. Grant Taylor returned to the mound after a tough game the previous day, pitching a scoreless seventh inning. Although he allowed two runs later in the game, his performance remained strong, and he hasn’t given up a home run this season.
After Taylor, Jordan Leasure took over in the seventh inning and kept the ball in the yard, bringing the game to the eighth inning with a 7-3 lead. Bryan Hudson faced some trouble in the eighth, but the team managed to hold on for a comfortable victory.
Looking Ahead
The White Sox will take a day off tomorrow as they prepare for a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks have had a strong start to the season, going 14-8 in a competitive NL West. The series will begin on Tuesday night at 6:40 p.m. Central time.
