Thomas White has committed to playing college baseball for the Commodores of Vanderbilt University. However, White is projected to be a first-round pick in the MLB Draft in a few weeks. He could forego that commitment. White was beyond impressive in his three seasons, with the Phillips Academy (MA) “Big Blue.” In 14 appearances, over those three seasons (58 and two-thirds innings), White had an astonishing 0.60 ERA. He had a 7-2 record, including 125 strikeouts, while only allowing 29 walks. Additionally, White impressed scouts during his performances at both the Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) and East Coast Pro Showcases, in 2022.
Based on his ERA alone, scouts will undoubtedly be intrigued by White’s potential. White is seen as the 23rd-best prospect, overall, in the 2023 MLB Draft. While prospect rankings rarely correlate to what team has that same pick in the draft, it is worth noting who does have the 23rd pick in this year’s draft, which belongs to the Cleveland Guardians. Regardless of which team does pick White, he would become the first prep school pitcher from the State of Massachusetts to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft since 2011. In that draft right-hander Tyler Beede, who is now playing professionally in Japan, and who spent parts of four seasons with the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates, was taken by the Toronto Blue Jays with the 21st pick overall. White is hoping for a better outcome than Beede’s experience in professional baseball, to this point.
Thomas White Draft Profile
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
Strengths
The Southpaw has an exceptional fastball that has topped out at 97 MPH. He also features a low 80s changeup. He is also refining his curveball, which hits the upper 70s. His aforementioned ERA and Stike-outs to walks ratio are MLB-caliber. This is largely why he is viewed as a top-25 pick. White is considered to be the top left-handed pitching prospect in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Weaknesses
There were concerns, last summer about White’s command. These were largely due to all the moving parts, related to his pitching biomechanics. However, all of those concerns seemed to be quashed after an impressive spring campaign for the Big Blue of Phillips Academy. While a relatively small sample size (three games, 15 innings), White had an ERA of 0.93, while striking out an impressive 31 batters, while only walking four. White finished the season with a one-and-one record.
MLB Comparison
With a prototypical MLB pitcher build at 6′-5″, 210 pounds, White has the physical appearance of Pittsburgh Pirates starter, Rich Hill. While about 10 to 15 pounds lighter than Hill, White is hoping he can have half of the longevity Hill has had, while still being effective. Hill has pitched 19 seasons in the Majors. Unlike White, who will hear his name called in the first round of the MLB Draft, next month, Hill was a fourth-round selection of the Chicago Cubs (112th), way back in 2002. Hill, like White, also has ties to Massachusetts. Hill was born in Milton, Massachusetts, about a 40-minute drive from Phillips Academy, in Andover, Massachusetts.
Photo Credit- Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned- Tyler Beede, Rich Hill
