Who doesn’t love corner infielders who mash?
The 2024 MLB draft on July 14 is quickly approaching, and the Blue Jays have the 20th-overall pick for the second-consecutive season. Unlike the 2023 draft, the Blue Jays will also pick in the second round with the 59th-overall pick. In the first five rounds, they’ll also have picks 95, 125, 136, 158.
On top of that, the Blue Jays will have a signing bonus pool of $8,897,000 for the first 10 rounds, or the first 11 picks. For the remaining 10 picks, the Blue Jays are able sign a draft prospect up to $150,000 before cutting into their bonus pool.
Let’s take a look at a prospect who could provide the Blue Jays some power in the near future.
Tommy White’s bio
Tommy White is a 6’1”, 228 lbs corner infielder who plays for Louisiana State University with a ton of power in his bat. Although he could’ve been drafted out of high school, his MLB Pipeline bio notes that no team was willing to meet his asking price, electing to head to school.
He transferred to LSU in his sophomore season, and it wasn’t all that long ago that the Blue Jays selected an infielder from the 2023 College World Series champions. With a compensation pick in the 2022 draft, the Blue Jays selected Cade Doughty.
Lunchtime Lift Off 🚀@tommywhite44 | SECN pic.twitter.com/eSiNXnubUh
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) May 22, 2024
Of course, Doughty isn’t the only notable LSU alumnus who has been in the Jays organization, as the franchise selected Aaron Hill 13th overall in the 2003 draft. The Blue Jays have never had the first-overall pick, but they had three second-overall picks early in the franchise. One of those players was Augie Schmidt,, selected out of LSU in 1982 who is also Gavin Lux’s uncle.
Tommy White’s stats
White immediately made MLB organizations regret not meeting his asking price, as he hit 27 home runs in his freshman season for North Carolina State while slashing .362/.425/.757 in 266 plate appearances. He did so well in fact, he transferred to Louisiana State University for his sophomore and junior seasons.
The corner infielder helped LSU win the College World Series in 2023, slashing .374/.432/.725 overall with 24 homers in 310 plate appearances. This season, White slashed .330/.401/.638 with 24 homers in 314 plate appearances, his worst season to date.
WALK-OFF TO THE 'SHIP!#MCWS x 🎥 ESPN2 / @LSUbaseball pic.twitter.com/POu7MUw5ZN
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 23, 2023
Overall throughout his collegiate career, White has slashed .355/.419/.704 with 75 homers in 890 plate appearances, along with a 8.2 BB% and a 14.5 K%. Pretty obvious to see why he’ll go in the first round.
Tommy White’s tools
The 21-year-old’s raw power has always been apparent, even dating back to high school, notes his MLB Pipeline bio. That rings true still, as he has a ton of strength and can go deep on his pull side, centrefield, or opposite field. With power comes a large zone, but he does a good job of not whiffing.
Although power is his main calling card, White is also a solid hitter who regularly makes contact, with not all of it being good contact. The 21-year-old isn’t a great runner and his arm is average at best. Scouts believe he’ll end up at first base once turning professional as he’s described as “erratic” with “a lack of range” while playing the hot corner.
Still, the bat is intriguing even if he’s limited to first base, a position locked by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the foreseeable future.
Tommy White’s grades
As always, we’ll take a look at his grades from MLB Pipeline!
| Tool | Grade |
| Hit | 55 |
| Power | 60 |
| Run | 30 |
| Arm | 50 |
| Field | 40 |
| Overall | 55 |
In the future, White profiles as a bat-first first baseman or even a designated hitter, the same role he played with North Carolina State where he broke the freshman record for home runs with 27.
Will the Blue Jays select Tommy White
With the Blue Jays calling up Orelvis Martinez on Tuesday, there is a significant lack of power in the minor leagues for the Jays. Damiano Palmegiani is probably their best power hitter, but everyone else is either far away from making the big leagues, or their hit tool is too concerning.
Although Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will hopefully sign to a long-term extension in the future, you always draft the best player available, and White just may be that player when the Jays step up to the podium on July 14.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.
