Shane Smith gives White Sox something to be hopeful about

Two innings later, Smith struck lead-off hitter Steven Kwan out swinging and got third baseman Jose Ramirez to swing at a pitch out of the zone to take a 1-2 lead on the count before he lined out on the next pitch.

The White Sox added Smith in December's Rule 5 Draft out of the Brewers' farm system. Last season, he appeared in 32 games, including 27 (16 starts) for AA Biloxi and five for AAA Nashville. He went 6-3 with a 3.05 earned run average (ERA), striking out 113 batters and walking 29 in 94.1 innings.

While Smith was establishing himself as a valuable major league prospect, the Sox were busy setting the single-season loss record, going 41-121. Chicago also lost 101 games in 2023, giving them consecutive 100-loss seasons for the first time in franchise history.

The White Sox haven't won a playoff series since the 2005 World Series. In its 125-year history, the franchise has only made the postseason 11 times.

The organization rarely has anything to enjoy, and that included on Tuesday.

Despite his solid outing, the Sox lost, 1-0, after reliever Mike Clevinger walked in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases loaded. Per Stathead, it was Cleveland's first walk-off walk since May 10, 2011, while Chicago lost to the Yankees on a game-ending bases-loaded walk on May 23, 2021.

Smith might not win many games this season, but his promising start suggests that one year, he might. For a team as listless as the White Sox, that's worth celebrating.