Shane Smith of Danvers is headed to Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game in Atlanta.
In one of baseball’s great stories thus far in the 2006 season, Smith has been selected as the Chicago White Sox’s all-star representative after putting up terrific numbers in this, his first season in the major leagues.
The rookie right-hander becomes just the second Rule 5 Draft pick to make an All-Star Game in the last 40 years; second baseman Dan Uggla of the Florida Marlins was also picked his rookie season of 2006.
Smith, a 6-foot-3, 240-pounder who was a Rule 5 selection by the White Sox out of the Milwaukee Brewers’ system last December, has helped the White Sox on the mound immensely. His 3-7 record doesn’t tell the full story, as he’s been the victim of a lack of run support on a poor (30-59) ChiSox squad.
Instead, it’s Smith’s peripherals that have the baseball world buzzing about the 25-year-old’s talent. In 16 games (all starts), he’s posted a 4.20 ERA and a WHIP of 1.33, striking out 76 hitters in 83 2/3 innings.
The former Governor’s Academy and Wake Forest hurler earned his first Major League win by throwing five innings of 7-strikeout baseball during a 3-0 shutout of the host Minnesota Twins on April 24. He then earned back-to-back wins in early June, defeating the team with the best record in the sport, the Detroit Tigers (8-1) at home followed by a 4-2 victory over the Astros in Houston.
Having suffered the loss Sunday in the White Sox’ 6-4 setback in Colorado to the Rockies, Smith is scheduled to make one more start — Friday at home against the Cleveland Guardians — prior to the All-Star festivities at Truist Park in Atlanta.
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