Major League Baseballs long season eventually exposes every teams depth. For the White Sox, that moment has arrived and Hagen Smith and Tanner McDougal might be exactly the arms they need.Chicago promoted two of its best pitching prospects this weekend, moving Smith and McDougal into the major-league bullpen while optioning Noah Schultz and David Sandlin. The timing could hardly be better. The White Sox remain in first place in the AL Central, but Cleveland, Minnesota, and Detroit are close enough that every late-inning meltdown suddenly matters. And friends, this is not simply September-preview baseball. Smith is Chicagos No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipelines No. 51 overall prospect. Since returning from a shoulder impingement in July, the former No. 5 overall pick has posted a 1.42 ERA with 10 strikeouts in six Triple-A relief appearances.MORE: Yankees reveal Aaron Judge injury update & timelineNov 9, 2025; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Hagen Smith during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesAnd while Hagen is the headline, McDougal might be even more interesting right now. The White Soxs No. 4 prospect owns a 2.86 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 34 2/3 Triple-A innings. Since returning from an elbow strain and moving to relief, opponents have hit just .158 against him while he has posted a 2.53 ERA.Both remain starters in Chicagos long-term plans. That is what makes this move smart. The White Sox arent abandoning development because they unexpectedly found themselves in a pennant race. They are borrowing two future rotation pieces for a role that can help them win right now. General manager Chris Getz specifically pointed to their power stuff and said the organization believes both are ready to contribute.MORE: Shohei Ohtani vs. Pete Crow-Armstrong NL MVP race isnt even a debate, & heres whyFeb 17, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Tanner McDougal poses for a portrait during photo day at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesDominance isnt a for-sure thing, however. Smith has battled command, issuing 40 walks in 58 1/3 Triple-A innings, and neither pitcher has thrown a single major-league pitch.But Chicagos bullpen needs fresh, high-upside arms, and the division is suddenly too tight for conservative roster management.Smith and McDougal were supposed to be part of the next White Sox window. Turns out they may get a chance to help this team reach October sooner rather than later.Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter