Hagen Smith joins 1981 ROY and Cy Young winner as only other pitcher with this stat line

Since making his MLB debut on August 9, Hagen Smith has provided a massive boost to the Chicago White Sox pitching staff. The 23-year-old rookie has seamlessly taken on a variety of roles, starting games, working out of the bullpen, making single-inning appearances, and pitching multiple innings when called upon.

Through his first 22.0 innings, Smith has handled every challenge with impressive poise, posting an outstanding 0.41 ERA. He has also recorded 32 strikeouts while maintaining a remarkable 0.81 WHIP. Across his first 13 appearances, Smith’s dominant start to his MLB career has placed him in rare company alongside former 17-year veteran Fernando Valenzuela.

Hagen Smith joins Fernando Valenzuela as the only other pitch with this stat line to begin a career

Aug 28, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Hagen Smith (32) delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

As highlighted in the graphic below from Just Baseball, Smith and Valenzuela are the only two pitchers in the live-ball era to begin their MLB careers with one earned run or fewer and at least 30 strikeouts through their first 13 appearances.

The only pitchers in the Live-Ball era to allow 1 or fewer earned runs with 30+ strikeouts in their first 13 MLB games:

1980-81 Fernando Valenzuela
2026 HAGEN SMITH

The lefty has made an IMMEDIATE impact for the White Sox! https://t.co/jNZ0UsQjIJ

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) September 15, 2026

Valenzuela’s first 13 appearances spanned two seasons, with 10 coming in 1980 before becoming a full-time starter the following year. In 1981, he took the league by storm, winning both Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award after making 25 starts and posting a 2.48 ERA.

Interestingly, Smith and Valenzuela share another similarity aside from making an immediate impact at the major league level. That is both are left-handers and Smith is expected to play a role in the White Sox starting rotation next season, a path that mirrors Valenzuela’s early days with the Dodgers 46 years ago.

If Smith can continue to build on his dominant debut season and carry that into next season, he could have the opportunity to follow a similar trajectory to the legendary left-hander.

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