Shane Smith, the Chicago White Sox right-hander, is moving closer to returning after sustaining a left ankle sprain on July 17 during a team workout at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Following the injury, he was placed on the 15-day injured list, putting a pause on his promising rookie season. The Shane Smith White Sox injury update remains a focal point as the team prepares for his potential comeback.

White Sox manager Will Venable shared insights ahead of the team’s Friday game against the Chicago Cubs at Rate Field, revealing that Smith is scheduled to throw live batting practice soon. This step marks a significant checkpoint in his recovery process.

Manager Outlines Key Milestone in Smith’s Recovery

Venable emphasized the importance of Saturday’s live batting practice session, where Smith is expected to complete three pitching segments. The manager expressed cautious optimism but refrained from committing to a return timetable until Smith successfully completes this workout.

Shane’s doing good. He’s going to throw a live BP tomorrow,

Venable said.

We’ll have three ups, so excited to see that. Then we’ll progress from there.

Without getting too far ahead ourselves, tomorrow’s a big checkpoint,

Venable added.

He’s got to go out there and get through his three ups and hopefully it looks good, he feels good and we can progress and see what that looks like.

Smith’s Rookie Season Performance and Workload Management

In the first half of the 2025 season, Smith stood out as a key contributor to the White Sox rotation. Over 18 starts and 86.2 innings, he maintained a 4.26 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP, striking out 81 batters while issuing 37 walks. His efforts earned him an MLB All-Star selection after a strong early stretch highlighted by a 2.37 ERA through his initial 13 starts. However, his performance dipped in the subsequent five games, during which he surrendered 23 earned runs.

The team has closely monitored Smith’s innings count, limiting him to just three innings and 46 pitches in his last outing to manage fatigue and risk. Smith is approaching a career-high workload, nearing his 94.1 innings pitched from the previous minor league season.

White Sox Continue To Monitor Player Health as Season Progresses

Keeping Smith healthy is critical for the White Sox as they navigate the second half of their campaign. His recovery timeline hinges on how smoothly he completes his upcoming live batting practice. Successfully passing this hurdle could pave the way for Smith to rejoin the rotation and bolster the team’s pitching staff. Manager Venable and the team are focusing on measured progress, emphasizing caution in ensuring Smith’s ankle heals properly before he returns to game action.