DALLAS -- Pitchers again dominated the big league phase of the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings, accounting for 11 of the 15 unprotected players selected Wednesday.
The 121-loss Chicago White Sox had the first pick and selected 24-year-old right-hander Shane Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers organization.
Smith was an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest when he was signed by Milwaukee in July 2021. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder has gone 13-7 with a 2.69 ERA and 203 strikeouts over 157 innings in 73 appearances (19 starts) over three minor league seasons.