Noah Schultz – The Player Comps

The White Sox are at that point in their (whatever number) rebuild that you really don’t know too much about the players that are expected to rise up from the earth like the second stanza of Michael Jackson’s Thriller and take over Sox Park. Sure you might know if they are ranked, or if you attended Sox Fest LIVE! you might have caught a quick glimpse and because they had uniforms on you could match player to name, but truthfully you don’t know much about these guys. Me either. Even prospect write-ups are of limited utility to you, the everyday fan.

So, it implores me to do something that the prospect hawks hate. PLAYER COMPS!! Now, the standard explanation from these folks is each player is different and you don’t want to layer a former player over a unique player, but that’s all bullshit. They just don’t want their fucked up player comp stuck in your head when dude fails. Who wants to be the guy that claimed Brooks Baldwin got some Luis Arraez to him? You don’t want to be the guy that claimed Nick Madrigal was destined for 3,000 hits and kept calling him LASERSHOW, do you? Nah, nobody does, but here, we’ll be brave and try it. Enjoy!

If Everything Goes Wrong Noah Schultz Will Be Jon Rauch

Jon Rauch is the original gigantic, White Sox top pitching prospect. That’s right, he was 6’11” and shot to the top of prospect rankings after an impressive run at A and AA. Sound familiar? Alas, it was never to be for the huge hurler. His brief starts and re-starts as a starter never really took, he even contributed to history with one of his eleven career starts.

However, when you are this huge and don’t break, teams will make some use of you even if starter ain’t in the cards. Ole Jon bounced around the majors for another decade coming out of the bullpen. He was never really good, per se, but good enough to keep getting jobs and even occasionally landing in the closer spot for a short term shift or two. Bulk Reliever is probably the low end for Schultz (assuming he avoids a surgeons knife enough).

If Things Go Pretty Good (as a Reliever) Noah Schultz Will Be Dan Plesac

With the lines being blurred between “Starting Pitcher” and “Relief Pitcher” these days as far as usage patterns and effectiveness, I think many positive pitcher outcomes are going to result in guys starting off as STARTERS, but becoming good relievers. Dan Plesac was a damn good reliever well into his late 30’s.

After spending a half decade as the closer for the Milwaukee Brewers and making all-star games he settled into just becoming a very good lefty reliever for A LONG DAMN TIME! This outcome would probably frustrate some, but just imagine Schultz being a shutdown, soft contact > strikeouts, closer for his first five years in the big leagues. I’d take it.

If Things Go Pretty Good (as a Starter) Noah Schultz Will Be Hyun Jin Ryu

Ryu pitched in the big leagues for over a decade, large in both height and weight he dominated sometimes, was injured sometimes and became hittable other times. It was a command first approach for Hyun Jin, much like Schultz will be. His career spanned over a decade and included some top 5 Cy Young seasons and other more forgettable years, either by injury or not. In the end, a ~20 WAR (f or b, so gfy) career would be a big win for a late first round pick!

If Everything Goes Right Noah Schultz Will Be David Price

If the durability emerges, the command and control maintain and the velocity pops up a tick or two, we gots a superstar on our hands. David Price to me is the most likely outcome if every goddamn thing goes right. A huge lefty ace that anchors a perennial playoff roster and ends up having a long career. Cy Young Award, All-Star games, you name it.

I do fear however that given the “NEW WAY” the White Sox intend to do business under Chris Getz that the same painful reality that Price met in Tampa will await us. Trading the ace before he gets to free agency to harvest the residual value since our frugal owner will refuse to pay market value. But let’s not put the cart before the horse.

-BeefLoaf