Busta Rhymes had a three-year stretch of album drops from 1995-1997 that produced hit songs with multisyllabic rhymes at an overwhelming velocity. Hip-hop fans were eager to scream “Gimme Some More” for Busta akin to prospect hounds craving more from the premium lefty hurler Noah Schultz. For any start in 2024, Schultz did not eclipse 67 pitches, did not face more than 19 batters, did not throw on fewer than six days rest, and did not go longer than four innings. This systematic plan to be conservative with Schultz’s usage has left us wanting much more in 2025.
If you want it, let me hear you say it, Gimme some more!”
Noah Schultz
LHP, Chicago White Sox, 6’9”, 220 lbs. *Table includes 1 playoff start
Although the current pitch mix needs refining as Schultz discussed in Sam Dykstra’s Pitching Lab interview, his 2024 arsenal highlighted an ability to induce weak ground balls, keep the ball in the yard, and produce frequent strikeouts. If Schultz succeeds in 2025 it will be because he crafts a solid third pitch to complement his filthy slider and 95+ mph fastball. Until we can get our eyes on publicly available Statcast data, we will have to be satisfied with the scouting report of his superb athleticism and repeatability of delivery that is seemingly unaffected by his 6’9” frame. His casual delivery bodes well for being stretched out past four innings as he allows the power leveraged from his height to propel the ball to the catcher. The smoothness of Schultz can be considered less of an injury risk as compared to a fellow rising star tall guy, Travis Sykora at 6’6″, who uses a whippy arm action like he’s pulling back on a yo-yo. Schultz is able to maintain a similar low three-quarter arm slot for all of his pitches. His excellent command of the slider makes it a supreme strikeout pitch he can locate all around the plate to both right and left-handed hitters. These characteristics inspire faith in the low walks and high strikeouts sustaining despite an increased workload as anticipated in this Scott Merkin piece.
If Schultz fails to develop the changeup or cutter, his 2024 All-Star Futures game performance could portend to the good and bad that will likely follow. In the game, he allowed three earned runs with two runs coming after a walk and HBP with the bases loaded. His 48% ball rate indicates that he may not have had a good feel for the ball on this day despite a 34.8 CSW%. He leaned on a 96 MPH two-seam fastball for half of his 23 pitches that could prove to be too easy for hitters to recognize and lay off. On the bright side, all three singles allowed were hit at an exit velocity of less than 75 MPH. Nevertheless, we will want to see him earn more freedom to battle back from self-induced errors as he builds his endurance for his first big league start.
The poor showing from the Chicago White Sox staff improves the likelihood of a promotion for Schultz, who could reverse recent team trends. Since 2021, the big league staff has been throwing fewer fastballs at a lower velocity, striking out fewer batters while issuing more walks and giving up more runs. Schultz, the second youngest non-roster invitee to spring training behind 2024 first-rounder Hagen Smith, is one of the few left-handed pitchers in their upper levels showing a better-than-league-average strikeout rate. The other lefties on the 40-man roster, Jake Eder and Ky Bush, have seen MLB innings, but present a weaker resume. His main competition for an opening later in the summer will come from the back half of the projected rotation of Martín Pérez, Davis Martin, Jonathan Cannon, Bryse Wilson, and Sean Burke. Until the team around him can match his level, Schultz would do well to adopt the following mindset from Busta.
“I was always told, That if I ain’t gon’ be part of the greatest
I gotta be the greatest myself”
Busta Rhymes, “Gimme Some More”, 1997
Noah Schultz is being carefully prepared for a flourishing start to his career. Although many 2024 fantasy managers were unhappy with how manager Pedro Grifol (now Will Venable) and pitching coach Ethan Katz purposefully diminished Garrett Crochet’s innings late in the season, anyone seeking to buy into the 2025 version of Crochet is very pleased with their restraint. If this is how Chicago continues to handle their best pitchers, dynasty managers will be content to see Schultz methodically build up skills (and Statcast data!) in AAA Charlotte ahead of a 2025 MLB debut.
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurt_player02 on Instagram & Threads @kuwasemiller.bksy.social on BlueSky)