Steven White

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #22 prospect in 2007
  No. 4 on this list two years ago, White is running out of time as the Yankees acquire more and more pitchers with similar or better stuff and more command. He's still a factor, though, as he's taken to minor league pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras' instruction and improved his curveball. At his best, White pounds the strike zone with a 90-93 mph four-seam fastball that he occasionally throws at 95, as well as his curveball and two versions of a changeup. One of his changes is straight, while the other has some sink. His whole package was more effective when he repeated Double-A last year, particularly against lefthanderss. In Triple-A, White got pounded when he elevated both his fastball and his changeups. He's worked hard to pick up a two-seam fastball and to improve his command. The Yankees are suddenly crowded with Triple-A righthanders, and White has little relief pitching in his past, so he could need time to adjust if asked to change roles. His ceiling is more likely at the back of the rotation, but he has more stuff than the likes of Jeff Karstens and Darrell Rasner. To pass them, White likely will have to master Triple-A in 2007.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #14 prospect in 2006
  The way the Yankees' big league season worked out, a healthy White might have had a shot at reaching New York and helping a beleaguered rotation. Instead, he missed nearly two months in the first half with an oblique strain, then spent time in the hospital and missed the Eastern League playoffs with a bout with pancreatitis. White also had pancreatitis as a college sophomore, so he'll have to monitor his health more closely in the future to avoid another flareup. He made up for lost time by pitching in the Arizona Fall League and making the U.S. Olympic qualifying team. In the AFL, his stuff was better than it had been all year, as he threw his fastball at 90-93 mph. White has touched 95-96 mph with his heater in the past, and he's at his best when he works off it, supplemented by an average curveball that has improved since he has turned pro. His injury issues stunted the work he needed to do on his changeup. White will return to Double-A in 2006 and needs to stay healthy to remain ahead of the younger, higher-ceiling arms behind him in the organization.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #4 prospect in 2005
  White set a Baylor record with 28 career wins. As a senior, he led the Bears to within one victory of the College World Series. He didn't turn pro until April 2004, and tragedy struck during his holdout when he discovered the body of his mother Brenda, who had died at home. White's fastball, which had reached the mid-90s early in his college career, bounced back to touch 95-96 mph late in the 2004 season, though he pitched more at 92-93. He showed better control of the pitch the more he threw it. He showed more power and command with his curveball, which had been inconsistent at Baylor. He rarely gets rattled. White pitches off his fastball nearly 80 percent of the time, and he lost some of the feel for his changeup in the process. He needs to refine it to combat lefthanders at higher levels. White's development was an important step for the Yankees, who could use an innings-eater as soon as possible. He fits that profile, but he'll need at least a year to hone his secondary stuff. He'll start 2005 in Double-A.

• December, 2006 Scouting Report
  No. 4 on this list two years ago, White is running out of time as the Yankees acquire more and more pitchers with similar or better stuff and more command. He's still a factor, though, as he's taken to minor league pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras' instruction and improved his curveball. At his best, White pounds the strike zone with a 90-93 mph four-seam fastball that he occasionally throws at 95, as well as his curveball and two versions of a changeup. One of his changes is straight, while the other has some sink. His whole package was more effective when he repeated Double-A last year, particularly against lefthanderss. In Triple-A, White got pounded when he elevated both his fastball and his changeups. He's worked hard to pick up a two-seam fastball and to improve his command. The Yankees are suddenly crowded with Triple-A righthanders, and White has little relief pitching in his past, so he could need time to adjust if asked to change roles. His ceiling is more likely at the back of the rotation, but he has more stuff than the likes of Jeff Karstens and Darrell Rasner. To pass them, White likely will have to master Triple-A in 2007.