P | Bats/Throws: L/L | 6' 3" 235 lbs | Age: 22
Draft: 2024 | Rd. 1, No. 5, Chicago White Sox | Arkansas
MLB Pipeline Rank
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP
2025 3 3 3.57 20 20 0 75.2 108 1.30
Career Minors 3 4 3.56 23 23 0 83.1 115 1.28
G W-L ERA IP SO WHIP
2025 20 3-3 3.57 75.2 108 1.30
Career Minors 23 3-4 3.56 83.1 115 1.28

Standard Minor League Pitching Statistics

SeasonTmLGLWLERAGGSSVIPHRERHRBBSOWHIP
2024 Winston-Salem Dash SAL A+ 0 1 3.52 3 3 0 7.2 7 3 3 0 2 7 1.17
2025 Birmingham Barons SOU AA 3 3 3.57 20 20 0 75.2 42 31 30 5 56 108 1.30

Scouting Report

2021

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45 

Smith was establishing himself as one of the top prep left-handers for the 2021 Draft before he had Tommy John surgery in 2019. That sidelined him for all of last season as well as the showcase circuit, but he has reclaimed his status this spring. He threw three straight no-hitters and four in a span of five starts in March, finishing the season with a total of seven no-nos as his stuff came all the way back. 

Smith has spent most of the year operating at 88-93 mph and topping out at 95 with some run and sink on his fastball. His slider has lacked consistency at times but when it's on, it's a sharp low-80s offering with depth. He'll occasionally display a changeup but hasn't had much need for it yet. 

Like most high school pitchers, Smith requires some polish. The Arkansas recruit creates angle on his pitches with a lower three-quarters arm slot but throws uphill and with some effort. He comes with some reliever risk but also could develop into a mid-rotation starter. 


draft

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 65 | Splitter: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 60

After blowing out his elbow as a high school sophomore and having Tommy John surgery, Smith bounced back to tie a Texas prep record with seven no-hitters as a senior in 2021. He might have factored in the top three rounds that July if not for his strong commitment to Arkansas. He has better stuff than any southpaw in this Draft and could be the first pitcher selected after finding more consistency this spring. He won Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year honors and led NCAA Division I in average-against (.144) and strikeout rate (17.3 per nine innings), setting a record in the latter category.

Smith operates at 94-97 mph and touches 100 with his fastball, which plays up because his funky delivery creates deception and riding action. His best offering is an 83-87 mph slider, which features sweep and depth while destroying lefties and keeping righties at bay, and he also can turn it into a cutter that reaches 91 mph. He uses an upper-80s splitter as a change of pace, and while he struggles to locate it well, it has intriguing tumble when it's on.

Smith employs far from a textbook delivery, working from a low-three-quarters slot with some crossfire that makes it tough to pick up his pitches and also to throw strikes at times. He has improved his control and performance in 2024, highlighted by striking out 17 over six innings on just 78 pitches against Oregon State, with some evaluators calling it the most dominant game they ever had seen. He has a strong 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame built for durability and could become a frontline starter if he continues to harness his stuff.


2025

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Splitter: 45 | Control: 40 | Overall: 55

Smith missed his entire high school junior season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, then returned to tie a Texas prep record with seven no-hitters in 2021. He emerged as the best lefty pitching prospect in the 2024 Draft, winning Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year honors, setting a NCAA Division I record for strikeout rate (17.3 per nine innings) and leading the nation in opponent average (.144) as a junior. Signed for $8 million as the fifth overall pick, his stuff and control have regressed in his first full pro season but he still has missed plenty of bats in Double-A.

Both Smith's fastball and slider played as well-above-average pitches in college but haven't been the same in 2025. His four-seamer has dropped 2 mph, sitting at 92-95 mph and topping out at 97, and while his funky crossfire delivery and low release height create plenty of deception and carry, his heater often misses the plate by a wide margin. His slider has lost some power as well, parking at 81-84 mph with horizontal and vertical action, and it has caught too much of the plate and produced few chases this year.

Smith can flash an upper-80s changeup with intriguing tumble, but he has lost faith in it because he has been unable to land it for strikes in pro ball. After he battled the strike zone more than ever and experienced elbow soreness this spring, the White Sox worked with him to slow his delivery down and keep him more balanced over the rubber. They still envision him and fellow southpaw Noah Schultz becoming their frontline starters of the future even though they have had more growing pains than anticipated in 2025.


2024

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 65 | Splitter: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

After blowing out his elbow as a high school sophomore and having Tommy John surgery, Smith bounced back to tie a Texas prep record with seven no-hitters as a senior in 2021. He might have factored in the top three rounds that July if not for his strong commitment to Arkansas, where he blossomed into the best southpaw in the 2024 Draft. He won Southeastern Conference pitcher of the year honors this spring, setting an NCAA Division I record for strikeout rate (17.3 per nine innings) and leading D-I in opponent average (.144) before signing for $8 million as the No. 5 overall pick.

Smith operates at 94-97 mph and touches 100 with his fastball, which plays up because his funky delivery with a low release height creates deception and riding action. His best offering is an 83-87 mph slider, which features sweep and depth while destroying lefties and keeping righties at bay, and he also can turn it into a cutter that reaches 91 mph. He uses an upper-80s splitter as a change of pace, and while he struggles to locate it well, it has intriguing tumble when it's on.

Smith employs far from textbook mechanics, working from a low-three-quarters slot with some crossfire that makes it tough to pick up his pitches and also to throw strikes at times. He has improved his control and performance in 2024, highlighted by striking out 17 over six innings on just 78 pitches against Oregon State, with some evaluators calling it the most dominant game they had ever seen. He has a strong 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame built for durability and has the stuff to become a frontline starter.



Awards




Transactions

Team Date Transaction
11/08/2025 American League Fall Stars activated LHP Hagen Smith.
09/10/2025 LHP Hagen Smith assigned to Glendale Desert Dogs.
06/28/2025 Birmingham Barons activated LHP Hagen Smith from the 7-day injured list.
05/30/2025 Birmingham Barons placed LHP Hagen Smith on the 7-day injured list.
04/04/2025 LHP Hagen Smith assigned to Birmingham Barons from Winston-Salem Dash.
03/06/2025 Chicago White Sox Prospects activated LHP Hagen Smith.
03/06/2025 activated LHP Hagen Smith.
01/24/2025 Chicago White Sox invited non-roster LHP Hagen Smith to spring training.
08/20/2024 LHP Hagen Smith assigned to Winston-Salem Dash from ACL White Sox.
08/05/2024 LHP Hagen Smith assigned to ACL White Sox.
07/23/2024 Chicago White Sox signed LHP Hagen Smith.
06/16/2024 College Workout activated LHP Hagen Smith.
02/12/2024 LHP Hagen Smith assigned to Arkansas Razorbacks.
06/29/2023 College Workout activated LHP Hagen Smith.
02/05/2023 LHP Hagen Smith assigned to Arkansas Razorbacks.
07/02/2022 USAB Stripes Team activated LHP Hagen Smith.
07/02/2022 USAB Stripes Team activated LHP Hagen Smith.
07/01/2022 LHP Hagen Smith and assigned to College Workout.
03/15/2022 LHP Hagen Smith and assigned to Arkansas Razorbacks.