A key White Sox pitching prospect is headed to the injured list.
Charlotte Knights right-hander Tanner McDougal has landed on the 7-day IL after leaving his last start with right forearm tightness. The team has since confirmed he has a right flexor strain and will be shut down from throwing for a few weeks as he undergoes further testing.
McDougal, 23, impressed early in the 2026 season and appeared to be next in line for a major league promotion. Through six Triple-A starts, the White Sox’s No. 6 prospect posted a 3.00 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 27 strikeouts across 24 innings. While his walk rate remained elevated, opposing hitters batted just .150 against him during that stretch.
Unfortunately, the forearm issue isn’t the only injury concern McDougal has dealt with recently. He was pulled from his previous start because of a hamstring strain, though that was only considered precautionary at the time.
It’s still unclear how much time McDougal could miss, but forearm injuries are often viewed as a potential precursor to something more serious. For now, the Sox organization and fans alike will be holding their collective breath, hoping that shutting down McDougal for the next few weeks will avoid an extended absence later this season.
In the meantime, attention now shifts to No. 4 prospect Hagen Smith, who has been equally as impressive to start the year. The final hurdle for the Arkansas product appears to be building up his stamina, as the left-hander has seen his fastball velocity dip as early as the third inning of his outings. If Smith can prove he’s capable of working deeper into games over the next month, the Sox could have him join fellow top pitching prospect Noah Schultz in the big-league rotation.
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