Noah Schultz is getting a rude welcome to Triple-A.
The White Sox’ top-ranked prospect, and the highest-ranked left-handed pitching prospect in baseball, has made three starts for Charlotte since being promoted last month, and none has gone well.
Schultz has a ghastly 11.91 ERA with 15 runs allowed in only 11„ innings. Opposing hitters are batting .391 against him with a 1.178 OPS. He has walked eight and allowed three home runs.
The Sox, at least, are not worried about one of their rebuilding cornerstones experiencing this in his first taste of pro ball’s penultimate level.
“I do think it’s good for him to go through, to navigate some of these outings,” general manager Chris Getz said this week. “Obviously, Triple-A hitters are going to be more seasoned than Double-A or A-ball hitters. I know he’s working on some things, whether it be his pitch characteristics, the development of each pitch that he has, but also the [pitch] sequencing. There are some delivery things that he’s ironing out, as well.
“You look at the quality of stuff, it’s still there. And now he’s being challenged with better hitters, and it’s only going to better prepare him for the future at the major-league level.”
That might end up being the case, but he’ll obviously have to solve what has ailed him in these three starts to make it to the majors in the first place.
The 2022 first-round draft choice will make his second appearance representing the Sox in the Futures Game on Saturday. In his first trip to the event last summer, he faced six batters and only got one out, allowing three hits, walking a batter and hitting another. He was charged with three runs.
“I wouldn’t say I was the happiest with my outing,” Schultz said last month, “but I know the experience as a whole, it was an experience I definitely won’t forget.”
Martin on the mound
Sox starter Davis Martin, who has been on the injured list since June 20 with a strained right forearm, made a rehab start with Charlotte on Wednesday, allowing two runs and three hits in two innings.
“He felt good coming out of it,” Sox manager Will Venable said Thursday. “He pitched well.
‘‘A couple of hits there, but he’s attacking the zone, trying to get his timing and delivery back and get his feet underneath him.
“Results aside, it’s really about him coming out of it feeling good, and he did.”
Danger, Will Robertson!
The Sox pulled off a trade, sending cash to the Blue Jays for outfielder Will Robertson, who was designated for assignment last weekend.
Robertson, 27, who was sent to Charlotte, had one hit in three games with the Jays.
He had a .292/.403/.578 slash line with 11 doubles, 14 home runs and 44 RBI in 62 games with Toronto’s Triple-A team.
Friday doubleheader
Rain washed away the scheduled series-opening game between the Sox and Guardians, forcing a split doubleheader Friday.
Game 1 of the twin bill is set to begin at 2:10 p.m., with first pitch in Game 2 set for 7:10 p.m.
The Sox will unveil a statue of former pitcher Mark Buehrle on the Rate Field concourse before Game 2.
