2024 MLB Draft Profile: Tommy White
Draft Profile: Tommy White (LSU)
Height: 6’0
Weight: 240
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Tommy White, one of college baseball’s most lethal power hitters over the last two seasons in college baseball at NC State and LSU, is one of the top prospects in the 2024 MLB Draft class.
Last year, White had a slash line of .374/.432/725 and had 24 home runs and 105 runs batted in only 66 games, helping LSU win their 7th College World Series Title.
White has incredible raw power, possibly the best in the class, and it has been evident over his first two years in college. He has great bat speed with a swing that can move his bat swiftly into the zone to size up pitches left out over the plate.
White’s power grades out to a 70 on the 20–80 scale which can project him being an impactful power bat at the major league level.
White does not walk as much as evaluators would like, for as gifted as he is offensively. He tends to have a more aggressive approach when it comes to attacking college pitchers, especially in the SEC.
His bat-to-ball skills, however, are outstanding: “He has an in-zone contact rate of 87%, including 92% against sliders, and he pulverizes the baseball to all fields” (Baseball America). He has demonstrated the ability to produce among the highest average exit velocities in the country, and he does so with a definitive ability to make contact.
White still has another year at LSU to work on that aspect of his holistic plate approach and can work on aspects of his plate discipline to work walks to expand on his ability to get on base.
His ability to make contact consistently, however, is not a concern.
When it comes to fielding, White has enough arm strength to possibly stick at third base. His limited athleticism and range to make plays, however, along with his body type, makes him a probable candidate to play first base at the major league level rather than trying to parse him together to be an average defensive third baseman.
Overall, White is one of the leading prospects in the top half of the 2024 MLB Draft. His potential to be an impact power bat, along with his potential to develop a consistent hit tool thanks to his bat-to-ball skills, make him an intriguing prospect for any MLB looking to add a middle-of-the-order power hitter to their farm system.
