Marlins’ Thomas White Poised To Dominate In First Full Season
There’s high praise, and then there’s what Cubs Double-A manager Kevin Graber had to say about 19-year-old lefthander Thomas White.
“Thomas is a generational talent,” said Graber, who coached White in high school at Phillips Academy outside Boston.
White ranked as the top southpaw prospect for the 2023 draft. The Marlins drafted him 35th overall and signed him for $4.1 million, a higher bonus than 16 first-rounders received.
White has long been a phenom. He cracked 90 mph for the first time as a 13-year-old.
Graber got his first impression two years prior.
“I saw him throw one pitch, and I said, ‘Where are his parents?’ ” Graber said. “(White) looked like a young Randy Johnson with legs up to his neck.”
White is 6-foot-5 and is listed at 210 pounds, but he said he is up to 229 after offseason work.
A straight-A student in high school, White’s intangibles are impressive.
For example, he was one of five Marlins prospects who arrived in Florida on Jan. 14, one month before pitchers and catchers reported to spring training.
“Maybe it’s a little overkill,” White said. “But I think it was perfect. That’s why I feel so comfortable this year.”
White proved it in the Marlins’ Spring Breakout game on March 15 when he struck out the side in one scoreless inning against Cardinals prospects.
“It was a confidence-booster because I hadn’t gone up against Double-A guys prior to that,” White said. “It was good to see my stuff play the way it did.”
White’s stuff includes a four-seam fastball that sits at 95 mph and tops out at 98. His fastball and curveball grade as plus pitches. White believes his mid-80s changeup is just as good.
White comes from an athletic family. His sister Caitlin is a Division I golfer at Merrimack College. Their father Timothy was a Merrimack punter who had tryouts with the Patriots and Raiders.
Thomas is on track for bigger things.
“My goal this season is to dominate,” White said. “I want to attack hitters, keep my walks down and stay healthy.”
