Noah Schultz

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #1 prospect in 2026
  BA Grade/Risk: 65/High
  
  Adjusted Grade: 50
  
  Track Record: Schultz has been one of the most celebrated pitching prospects in the game since the White Sox drafted the Chicago-area prep 26th overall in 2022. Despite flashing big-time stuff on the showcase circuit, he dropped to the late first round after missing part of his senior season with mononucleosis before getting pre-draft exposure in the Prospect League. The lanky, 6-foot-10 Schultz pitched in just a handful of instructional league games after joining the organization and was limited to 10 starts in 2023 due to a flexor strain. Continuing to be handled cautiously by the White Sox, he took the mound for 23 starts in 2024, averaging nearly four innings per outing. That season, his fastball velocity surged forward and helped the pitch become double-plus. The 2025 season proved to be a more challenging year for Schultz. The velocity of both of his four-seam fastball and slider dropped slightly, while his walk rate spiked from 6.7% to 13.8%. These issues were attributed to patellar tendinitis in his right knee that flared up periodically. Schultz’s 2025 season ended prematurely in late August and he was also pulled from a planned Arizona Fall League assignment.
  
  Scouting Report: Schultz’s sinker had become even more effective with the increased velocity in 2024, but in 2025 his money pitch had dipped to averaging 94.5 mph and touching 98, a drop of a tick or two. Despite the velo drop, he got more whiffs on the pitch in 2025. When it’s right, it becomes even more difficult for hitters because of the extreme deception provided by Schultz’s low three-quarters arm slot and the way he hides the ball. He explodes on hitters with run and sink to help get whiffs up in the zone. Schultz’s double-plus slider also was down, averaging 81 mph, with the same late, hard movement and a high spin rate. He recorded fewer whiffs with the pitch, which saw its miss rate drop from 42% in 2024 to 34%. Schultz’s changeup sits 86-89 mph and is a potentially above-average pitch with late movement and downer action. He used it to keep righthanded hitters from sitting on his slider. He also works in an average 88-91 mph cutter that touches 93 with late action. Using a modified windup, Schultz starts from what looks like a stretch position before going into a small side-rocker step, which helps keep his long levers in sync. Poor control and command were his biggest issues in 2025, when he struggled to land his pitches consistently in the zone, attributable in part to his recurring soreness in his right knee.
  
  The Future: The White Sox have been patient with Schultz’s development. Due to the knee issue, they will have to wait a bit longer until he can contribute in Chicago, but perhaps not too much longer if he reverts to his 2024 form.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #1 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 65/High.
  
  Track Record: The White Sox drafted Schultz 26th overall in 2022 out of a Chicago-area high school. They signed him for a slot-value bonus of $2.8 million. He was another of what has been an annual tradition of drafting players who were part of the Area Code Games team managed by White Sox scouts. The extra familiarity provided by the event was a big help that year, considering Schultz missed part of his senior season to mono before getting pre-draft exposure pitching in the Prospect League. The lanky, 6-foot-9 southpaw pitched in a just a handful of instructional league games after joining the organization in 2022 and was limited to 10 starts in 2023 due to a flexor strain in his elbow. Schultz had several boxes to check in 2024 as part of his path to recognition as the game’s best lefthanded pitching prospect. He turned in a successful season split between High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham. The first goal was to prove his durability to handle a starting role. Continuing to be handled cautiously by the White Sox, he took the mound for 23 starts in 2024, averaging nearly four innings per outing compared to fewer than three in his 2023 pro debut. The second jump forward was an increase in his fastball velocity, which gave him a second double-plus pitch. Even more impressive were the results he posted after a late May promotion to Double-A. He recorded a 1.48 ERA and 73-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 61 innings. Schultz is often compared to Randy Johnson and Chris Sale, a couple of extra-tall lefthanders with low arm slots and devastating fastball/slider combos.
  
  Scouting Report: Added velocity made Schultz’s fastball even more effective, with his two-seamer now sitting 93-97 mph and touching 99 or higher. It becomes even more difficult for hitters because of the extreme deception provided by his low three-quarters arm slot and the way he hides the ball. It explodes on hitters with run and sink to help get whiffs up in the zone. Schultz’s wipeout slider averages 82-83 mph, which also was up from the previous year, with late hard movement and a high spin rate. His changeup sits 86-89 mph and is a potential above-average pitch with late movement and down action. He uses it to keep righthanded hitters from sitting on his slider. For a different look, Schultz also worked in an average cutter with late action and late cut. It sits 88-91 mph and touches 93. Using a modified windup, Schultz starts from what looks like a stretch position before going into a small side-rocker step, helping to keep his long levers in sync.
  
  The Future: The advances Schultz made in 2024 keep him on the path to be a top-of-the rotation starter. He’ll get to Triple-A at some point in 2025 and could be ready to pitch in the big leagues before the end of the year, but the White Sox have no reason to rush him.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 55 | Cut: 50 | Control: 60.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 60.
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #2 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 60/Very High
  
  Track Record: The White Sox stayed close to home when they drafted Schultz 26th overall in 2022, signing the towering Chicago-area high school product for full slot value of $2.8 million. While his time on the mound has been limited to 27 innings since signing, Schultz has flashed tantalizing, mostly unhittable stuff. His 2023 pro debut was delayed until June 2 by a flexor strain. It wasn’t until his seventh start a month and a half later that he finally gave up a run, the only game among his 10 starts in which he yielded an earned run. He spent the entire season at Low-A Kannapolis, striking out 38 batters while walking just six.
  
  Scouting Report: Schultz’s devastating mid-90s fastball touches the high 90s. It is difficult for hitters to square up because of the extreme deception provided by his low three-quarters arm slot and the way he hides the ball. It explodes on hitters with run and sink to generate whiffs up in the zone. Schultz’s fastball has double-plus potential, as does his wipeout slider that averages 79-80 mph with late, hard movement and a high spin rate. He doesn’t use his changeup much, but it’s a potentially above-average pitch in the mid 80s with late movement and down action. He uses it to keep righthanded hitters from sitting on his slider. Using a modified windup, Schultz starts from what looks like a stretch position before going into a small side-rocker step, which helps keep his long levers in sync. He coordinates his tall frame and long levers well, throwing a lot of strikes and profiling as a starter.
  
  The Future: Schultz has the components of a top-of-the rotation starter. He will continue to move through the system slowly, with his pitch counts being carefully controlled. He’ll likely head to High-A Winston-Salem as a 20-year-old to start the 2024 season.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 60
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #4 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: It had been 21 years since the White Sox drafted a high school pitcher in the first round--suburban Chicago righthander Kris Honel in 2001--before another local product tempted them. The White Sox viewed the 6-foot-9 Schultz as too promising to pass up with the 26th overall pick in 2022. With a fastball that touches 98 mph, Schultz was Chicago's pick despite a limited senior season because of a bout with mononucleosis. He significantly boosted his draft stock with six starts in the Prospect League, where he struck out 37 in 19.1 innings. Schultz signed for $2.8 million and saw his first action in a White Sox uniform at instructional league.
  
  Scouting Report: The gem of Schultz's arsenal is a potentially plus-plus two-seam fastball that ranged 93-97 mph in the fall. It's a pitch that explodes on hitters with run and sink to help get whiffs up in the zone. His 81-84 mph slider has a high spin rate and is a potentially plus pitch. It has devastating late life and hard sweeping action that plays against batters of either hand. He has enough feel for his slider to throw it in the zone consistently. Schultz's third pitch is an average, 86-87 mph changeup with hard fading action. He uses it to keep righthanded batters from sitting on his slider. Using a modified windup, Schultz starts from what looks like a stretch position before going into a small side step, which helps keep his long levers in sync. He throws from a lower arm slot that adds deception and allows his stuff to play up. He's shown surprisingly good feel to throw strikes, especially given his extreme height, and has impressive body control and great feel to land his breaking ball.
  
  The Future: The White Sox will give Schultz plenty of time to develop at the lower levels. He might start 2023 in extended spring training to manage his innings before heading to Low-A.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Control: 50

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #51 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Oswego (Ill.) East HS Committed/Drafted: Vanderbilt
  Age At Draft: 19
  BA Grade: 55/Extreme
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: - | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: | Control: 50
  It is difficult to get much more exciting than the tall and lanky, 6-foot-9, 225-pound lefthander. That’s just what Schultz is, and he has that size plus impressive stuff, with a fastball that’s touched 98 mph this spring after mostly settling in the low 90s last summer on the showcase circuit. While Schultz flashed bigtime stuff this spring, he was also not seen frequently, after missing much of the spring season with mono. He draws Chris Sale and Randy Johnson body comps, but unlike your typical tall pitcher who will rely on a longer arm swing for leverage, Schultz has a shorter take back and hides the ball extremely well before releasing from a low, three-quarter slot, adding even more deception to an already tough look for the hitter. While Schultz has impressive body control for his size, he’ll need to fine tune his fastball command as he can be scattered in the zone at times. Schultz has a lot of confidence in his 80-83 mph sweeping slider that can surpass the 3,000 rpm mark. Scouts are impressed with how he dictates the movement and shape depending on the count, adding sweep for the punchout. Capping off his repertoire is an 81-83 mph changeup, thrown mostly to righthanded hitters. Schultz has huge upside, but is expected to be a tough sign out of a Vanderbilt commitment.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #27 prospect in 2025
• Ranked Baseball America's #9 prospect in 2024
• Ranked Baseball America's #31 prospect in 2023

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: It had been 21 years since the White Sox drafted a high school pitcher in the first round--suburban Chicago righthander Kris Honel in 2001--before another local product tempted them. The White Sox viewed the 6-foot-9 Schultz as too promising to pass up with the 26th overall pick in 2022. With a fastball that touches 98 mph, Schultz was Chicago's pick despite a limited senior season because of a bout with mononucleosis. He significantly boosted his draft stock with six starts in the Prospect League, where he struck out 37 in 19.1 innings. Schultz signed for $2.8 million and saw his first action in a White Sox uniform at instructional league.
  
  Scouting Report: The gem of Schultz's arsenal is a potentially plus-plus two-seam fastball that ranged 93-97 mph in the fall. It's a pitch that explodes on hitters with run and sink to help get whiffs up in the zone. His 81-84 mph slider has a high spin rate and is a potentially plus pitch. It has devastating late life and hard sweeping action that plays against batters of either hand. He has enough feel for his slider to throw it in the zone consistently. Schultz's third pitch is an average, 86-87 mph changeup with hard fading action. He uses it to keep righthanded batters from sitting on his slider. Using a modified windup, Schultz starts from what looks like a stretch position before going into a small side step, which helps keep his long levers in sync. He throws from a lower arm slot that adds deception and allows his stuff to play up. He's shown surprisingly good feel to throw strikes, especially given his extreme height, and has impressive body control and great feel to land his breaking ball.
  
  The Future: The White Sox will give Schultz plenty of time to develop at the lower levels. He might start 2023 in extended spring training to manage his innings before heading to Low-A.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: It had been 21 years since the White Sox drafted a high school pitcher in the first round--suburban Chicago righthander Kris Honel in 2001--before another local product tempted them. The White Sox viewed the 6-foot-9 Schultz as too promising to pass up with the 26th overall pick in 2022. With a fastball that touches 98 mph, Schultz was Chicago's pick despite a limited senior season because of a bout with mononucleosis. He significantly boosted his draft stock with six starts in the Prospect League, where he struck out 37 in 19.1 innings. Schultz signed for $2.8 million and saw his first action in a White Sox uniform at instructional league.
  
  Scouting Report: The gem of Schultz's arsenal is a potentially plus-plus two-seam fastball that ranged 93-97 mph in the fall. It's a pitch that explodes on hitters with run and sink to help get whiffs up in the zone. His 81-84 mph slider has a high spin rate and is a potentially plus pitch. It has devastating late life and hard sweeping action that plays against batters of either hand. He has enough feel for his slider to throw it in the zone consistently. Schultz's third pitch is an average, 86-87 mph changeup with hard fading action. He uses it to keep righthanded batters from sitting on his slider. Using a modified windup, Schultz starts from what looks like a stretch position before going into a small side step, which helps keep his long levers in sync. He throws from a lower arm slot that adds deception and allows his stuff to play up. He's shown surprisingly good feel to throw strikes, especially given his extreme height, and has impressive body control and great feel to land his breaking ball.
  
  The Future: The White Sox will give Schultz plenty of time to develop at the lower levels. He might start 2023 in extended spring training to manage his innings before heading to Low-A.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 55/Extreme
  
  August Update: It is difficult to get much more exciting than the tall and lanky, 6-foot-9, 225-pound lefthander. That&#39s just what Schultz is, and he has that size plus impressive stuff, with a fastball that&#39s touched 98 mph this spring after mostly settling in the low 90s last summer on the showcase circuit. While Schultz flashed bigtime stuff this spring, he was also not seen frequently, after missing much of the spring season with mono. He draws Chris Sale and Randy Johnson body comps, but unlike your typical tall pitcher who will rely on a longer arm swing for leverage, Schultz has a shorter take back and hides the ball extremely well before releasing from a low, three-quarter slot, adding even more deception to an already tough look for the hitter. While Schultz has impressive body control for his size, he&#39ll need to fine tune his fastball command as he can be scattered in the zone at times. Schultz has a lot of confidence in his 80-83 mph sweeping slider that can surpass the 3,000 rpm mark. Scouts are impressed with how he dictates the movement and shape depending on the count, adding sweep for the punchout. Capping off his repertoire is an 81-83 mph changeup, thrown mostly to righthanded hitters.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.