Sox pitcher Noah Schultz says first spring start was one to build on

GOODYEAR – Left-hander Noah Schultz characterized his first outing Friday against the Brewers as “a good start to the year.”

“I want to continue to build off that,” he said Saturday.

How the 6-10 Schultz, the No. 49-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline whose frame and delivery reminds of Randy Johnson, feels and performs this spring and beyond is paramount to the White Sox’ rebuild trajectory. You can toss the development of top pitching prospects Hagen Smith, another first-round left-hander; and righties Tanner McDougal and Grant Taylor into that snapshot of the future.

Schultz hit a speed bump last season when right patellar tendinitis set in his right knee, adversely affecting mechanics and causing him to miss time the last three months of the season. In five starts over 16 ⅓ innings following a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte, he walked nine batters and posted a 9.37 ERA.

Over two innings of one run ball against the Brewers, Schultz struck out three and walked no one. While showing a changeup he hopes to feature with his upper-90s fastball and slider, he touched 97 mph knowing there’s a little more in the tank.

“It’s spring, everyone is building up,” Schultz said. “You always want to throw harder, but there are things more important than just pure velocity. After last year with the ups and downs and stuff, there’s a lot of things I’m working on and every week, go out there and show it.”

The knee “feels good,” Schultz said, which was probably the most important thing to come out of it.

“Getting in a routine of doing stuff as we’re ramping up, facing hitters and into games,” Schultz said. “Feel good about it, and I’m excited for the year.”

Role model

Right-hander Mike Vasil, who pitched 101 innings over 47 appearances last season, wants to start but his value as a multi-innings reliever is significant.

“It’s huge,” Venable said. “Our ability to utilize that last year was awesome. We had him pitch in every single role. He was starting the games, in the middle of games and at the end of games.”

Vasil pitched three innings in his second outing Friday against the Rangers.

“That versatility really helps us out,” Venable said, “especially as you get going in the season and guys need rest and you have injuries that put constraints on you.”

Rest assured

Andrew Benintendi was out a second straight day and could miss a couple more but gave assurances that his sore right side is not worrisome.

“Not at all,” he said.

“At this point in the spring we just want to be cautious,” Venable said.

SOX 7, GUARDIANS 5

On his last day before leaving to play for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, Sam Antonacci DH’d and homered in the first inning against Tanner Bibee. Antonacci also homered against the Cubs’ Jameson Taillon, his circuit clouts traveling 416 and 417 feet, and scored two more runs after getting hit by pitches. An infielder, Antonacci was hit 39 times in the minors and the Arizona Fall League last year.

• All-Star righty Shane Smith allowed one run on two hits and a walk over three innings, completing the outing by throwing a slider past Jose Ramirez for his second strikeout.

“Smith said he “felt the rhythm was a little better in the delivery” than it was in his first start. “Was able to land some offspeed for strikes early on. Just located the fastball a lot better than last time.”

• Miguel Vargas was 2-for-3 including an RBI single. The third baseman is 6-for-14 (.429) this spring. The Sox are 6-4.

• On deck: Sox at Cubs, 2:05 p.m., Sunday, Mesa, 1000-AM, Anthony Kay vs. Shota Imanaga.