He's now the number 19 prospect in the Pirates' minor league system. Maybe he should have played football. We certainly need WRs.
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 70 | Arm: 50 | Field: 60 | Overall: 40
When the Pirates went over slot to sign White away from playing football and baseball at Penn State in 2021, they knew they’d have to be patient with an athlete from a cold-weather state who had been splitting his focus among multiple sports. What they didn’t know is how hard it would be to keep him on the field. A number of injuries limited White to 11 total games in 2021 and 2022 but even though he didn’t get started until June of 2023, he saw his first extended action, mostly with full-season Bradenton, allowing him to finally to show a little bit of what the fuss was all about.
White has teased with his physicality and athleticism since signing; in 2023, he got to put all of it to use for 61 games. Considering how much development time he missed, it was encouraging he shook off the rust and kept his strikeout rate under 30 percent while also drawing a lot of walks. He can be quick to the ball and find the barrel with pretty good power, with more to come.
The former wide receiver is an easily plus runner, so his ability to get on base should help him be a threat to steal. It also helps him cover a lot of ground in center field, where he has a chance to be an excellent defender for a long time. He still has a ways to go, but last year was the first positive steps forward he’s been able to take. If he can put the injuries behind him and continue to stay on the field, he could really start sharpening all of those tools.
White was the No. 74 overall recruit in 2021 as a wide receiver -- three spots ahead of future NFL first-rounder Xavier Worthy among wideouts -- and committed to play both football and baseball at Penn State before the Pirates gave him an over-slot $1.5 million bonus. The COVID pandemic cut short his senior season with Malvern (Pa.) Prep, but White, who played quarterback as a junior, picked up five touchdowns and 369 yards (21.7 per reception) in four games.
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 70 | Arm: 50 | Field: 60 | Overall: 40
When the Pirates went over slot to sign White away from playing football and baseball at Penn State in 2021, they knew they’d have to be patient with an athlete from a cold-weather state who had been splitting his focus among multiple sports. What they didn’t know is how hard it would be to keep him on the field. A number of injuries limited White to 11 total games in 2021 and 2022 but even though he didn’t get started until June of 2023, he saw his first extended action, mostly with full-season Bradenton, allowing him to finally to show a little bit of what the fuss was all about.
White has teased with his physicality and athleticism since signing; in 2023, he got to put all of it to use for 61 games. Considering how much development time he missed, it was encouraging he shook off the rust and kept his strikeout rate under 30 percent while also drawing a lot of walks. He can be quick to the ball and find the barrel with pretty good power, with more to come.
The former wide receiver is an easily plus runner, so his ability to get on base should help him be a threat to steal. It also helps him cover a lot of ground in center field, where he has a chance to be an excellent defender for a long time. He still has a ways to go, but last year was the first positive steps forward he’s been able to take. If he can put the injuries behind him and continue to stay on the field, he could really start sharpening all of those tools.
White was the No. 74 overall recruit in 2021 as a wide receiver -- three spots ahead of future NFL first-rounder Xavier Worthy among wideouts -- and committed to play both football and baseball at Penn State before the Pirates gave him an over-slot $1.5 million bonus. The COVID pandemic cut short his senior season with Malvern (Pa.) Prep, but White, who played quarterback as a junior, picked up five touchdowns and 369 yards (21.7 per reception) in four games.
