Road to The Show?: Marlins¡¯ White
Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at top Marlins prospect Thomas White. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here.
The Marlins¡¯ latest rebuild cycle seems to be anchored by pitching prospects, with left-hander Thomas White leading the charge.
The 19-year-old was named the Midwest League's Top MLB Prospect and an end-of-season All-Star on the circuit after a strong first full season between High-A Beloit and Single-A Jupiter. He was also named as the organization's Pitcher of the Year and High-A MVP. Over 21 starts, White posted a 2.81 ERA with a system-high 120 strikeouts and a 1.31 WHIP in 96 total innings.
MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 43 overall prospect did not start the year on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, but he¡¯s now the No. 3 left-handed pitching prospect in the game. The Marlins¡¯ farm system, bolstered by nine Trade Deadline deals, also took a leap in the rankings, going from No. 29 before the season to No. 15 in the midseason rankings.
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound southpaw leads his three-pitch arsenal with a mid-90s fastball with awesome arm-side run and carry. He also has good command of a plus high-spin curveball and will mix in a fading changeup as a third pitch.
White worked with second-ranked Marlins prospect Noble Meyer to reshape his breaking ball during the season. Meyer advised White to change his grip and the pitch transformed from a slower slurve to more of a low-80s true slider.
White returned the favor, helping Meyer improve his fastball velocity. The duo has been through almost every step of their professional baseball journeys together, beginning at the MLB Draft Combine. The hurlers were both nabbed in 2023's first round and made the 19 1/2-hour drive together when they were promoted to Beloit in May.
¡°It's been cool to see them go after it. There's a nice little competitive rivalry going there -- not in a bad way. It's just more they push each other, so it's been cool to see them take that in stride and show some leadership aspects, too,¡± director of Minor League operations Hector Crespo told MLB.com in March. ¡°These guys were here early. They wanted to get down here and work, so it's been cool to see them go at it with one another, and it honestly just makes the entire group better.¡±
The native of Rowley, Massachusetts, was on the national prospect radar and recruited by colleges as early as middle school with reports of his fastball reaching 91 mph as a 14-year-old eighth-grader. Prep Baseball Report ranked him as the top prospect in his class ahead of his freshman season at Phillips Academy, which was subsequently wiped out by the pandemic.
White's final two seasons of prep ball catapulted him into first-round consideration. He was named Massachusetts¡¯ Gatorade Player of the Year and won a Central New England Prep School Baseball League title during his junior year in 2022. Over 33 innings that season, he recorded 70 strikeouts and yielded just 10 hits and one earned run.
He added 20 pounds of muscle ahead of his senior season and dominated before a rough outing in the CNEPBSL semifinal game. Ultimately, White went 5-2 with a 1.66 ERA and 95 strikeouts while again allowing just 10 hits over 42 innings. He earned another Gatorade Player of the Year honor and committed to Vanderbilt ahead of the Draft.
White and Meyer went through the MLB Draft Combine together and were the top ranked prep pitchers in the class. The Marlins were able to land them both with Meyer going No. 10 overall and White, who ranked as MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 24 Draft prospect, sliding to No. 35.
He signed for a well-above-slot bonus of $4,100,000 and reported to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League. After just one FCL appearance, White was elevated to Jupiter for two starts at the end of the regular season. He also pitched one game in the Florida State League playoffs as the Hammerheads claimed the league title.
White did not appear in any Grapefruit League games, but he started the Marlins¡¯ Spring Breakout game. He recorded three strikeouts and worked around a walk in his lone inning. He returned to Jupiter to begin this year's campaign and posted a 3.18 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 34 innings spanning eight starts.
White was quickly promoted, along with Meyer, to Beloit and had a strong finish to the season. Over 13 starts, he accumulated a 2.61 ERA with 76 punchouts over 62 innings. His most noteworthy improvement was to his walk rate, which went from 4.5 per nine innings with Jupiter to 3.05 with Beloit.
White¡¯s control struggles were on display during his appearance in this year's All-Star Futures Game in Arlington. He recorded just two outs, one via strikeout, but allowed a run on a three walks and a hit.
Scouts believe White should be able to sort out his control and command issues as he learns to keep his longer limbs in sync. Although he¡¯s rising quickly, he should have plenty of time to find a solution. Still a week shy of his 20th birthday, he could open the 2025 season at Double-A.