ProfileHt.: 5'11" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School
Purdue
Drafted in the 4th round (138th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008 (signed for $213,000).
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First baseman Ryne White is far and away the most advanced hitter in the state. He batted .333 this spring after finishing third in NCAA Division I with a .452 batting average in 2007, but he did increase his power (from eight to 12 homers) and continued to control the strike zone (35 walks, 21 strikeouts). White has a quick bat, tremendous hand-eye coordination and a whole-field approach. He made adjustments this year to get more power out of his stroke. He's short for a first baseman at 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds, but he has an average arm and could get a pro opportunity in the outfield, where he played as a freshman.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
The Diamondbacks found a couple of polished college hitters who could move quickly through the organization with their fourth and fifth selections in the 2008 draft, White and Collin Cowgill. White finished third in batting in NCAA Division I in 2007 at .452, and while his average dropped more than 100 points in his draft year, he showed more power and the Diamondbacks signed him for $213,000. He hit seven home runs in Missoula to earn a promotion to South Bend, and then showed he has legitimate power to all fields by homering to left at Chase Field in the final game of instructional league when the Diamondbacks give their prospects a chance to play in a big league park. He also is a strong all-around hitter, and actually handled lefthanders better than righthanders last year. White immediately became the best defensive first baseman in the organization, with good footwork around the bag, and he's athletic enough to play in the outfield as well. He played there as a college freshman and has an average arm. White is a well-rounded player who gets the most out of his ability. He doesn't look like a star, with a slightly more powerful Sean Casey as his most optimistic comparison, but has a good probability of reaching the big leagues. He'll probably move up to high Class A to open 2009.
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