Max White Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1797
AVG	.242
OBP	.332
SLG	.389
HR	37

Full name Luther Max White
Born 10/10/1993 in Williston, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 175 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Williston
Drafted in the 2nd round (73rd overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2012 (signed for $1,000,000).

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White gets compared to fellow prep Florida outfielder Brett Phillips as both are athletic, speedy center fielders. White is more of a wiry athlete at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, and has a good profile as a lefthanded speedster with range and arm strength. He emerged as a prospect as a sophomore as both a pitcher and hitter, but left shoulder surgery limited him to just five games as a junior and limited his showcase exposure. His arm strength has started to return this spring, including some low 90s readings in short stints on the mound. Scouts like White's tools in center, as he's a consistent 6.5-second runner over 60 yards with improving instincts. He is adding strength and has batting practice power with surprising bat speed, but he has a raw approach at the plate and hasn't faced a lot of hasn't advanced pitching. Scouts have compared him to players such as former Florida outfielder Matt den Dekker (now with the Mets) all the way to Steve Finley if his power develops. He wasn't a consensus supplemental pick, but if he's considered signable away from a Florida commitment he could go that high to the right team.

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Organization Prospect Rankings

The Rockies drafted White 73rd overall in 2012 and signed him for $1 million to steer him away from his commitment to Florida. His debut season at Rookie-level Grand Junction presented myriad challenges as he struggled to hit, particularly at the outset, though he did improve as the season unfolded. He began 2013 in extended spring training before heading to low Class A Asheville in May when the team had an outfield opening. The lean, wiry White needs to gain strength and be more aggressive at the plate with his smooth, easy swing from the left side. His pitch recognition needs improvement as well, particularly against breaking pitches from lefthanders. He has good hand speed and balance and plenty of bat speed. As he grows into his body, he could develop enough power to hit 15 homers a year. He runs well but needs to bunt more often to capitalize on his speed. He is a pure center fielder with above-average range. His arm strength was above-average when he got to Asheville but tailed off later in the season. Shoulder surgery in high school diminished White's status as a professional pitching prospect, but he has plenty of arm to play center. He likely will return to Asheville in 2014.
White was a two-way prospect early in his high school career, but shoulder surgery dented his professional prospects as a pitcher. He still had plenty of appeal as an athletic, speedy center fielder, however, and the Rockies took him 73rd overall in June and signed him away from a Florida commitment for $1 million. He had a humbling pro debut at Grand Junction, though he did show improvement as the season went on, batting .151/.295/.233 in the first half and .237/.342/.412 in the second. White is wiry and athletic, with a smooth lefthanded swing. His two best attributes are his hand speed and ability to run. His hand speed helped White fare better against the hardest throwers because he just reacted and got his barrel on the ball and didn't try to hit homers. He attempted the latter too often, which caused his swing to become long and his strikeouts to mount. As he grows into his body, White could develop enough power to hit 15 homers a year, but he'll need to improve his approach at the plate to tap into it. He has the potential to hit a lot of doubles and triples, steal bases and cover ground in center field. His arm strength isn't what it was before surgery, but it's plenty strong enough for center field, where he should be a good defender, though he needs work on his routes. White has not faced a lot of quality pitching, so he'll probably return to a short-season stop to get up to speed in pro ball.

Draft Prospects

White gets compared to fellow prep Florida outfielder Brett Phillips as both are athletic, speedy center fielders. White is more of a wiry athlete at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, and has a good profile as a lefthanded speedster with range and arm strength. He emerged as a prospect as a sophomore as both a pitcher and hitter, but left shoulder surgery limited him to just five games as a junior and limited his showcase exposure. His arm strength has started to return this spring, including some low 90s readings in short stints on the mound. Scouts like White's tools in center, as he's a consistent 6.5-second runner over 60 yards with improving instincts. He is adding strength and has batting practice power with surprising bat speed, but he has a raw approach at the plate and hasn't faced a lot of hasn't advanced pitching. Scouts have compared him to players such as former Florida outfielder Matt den Dekker (now with the Mets) all the way to Steve Finley if his power develops. He wasn't a consensus supplemental pick, but if he's considered signable away from a Florida commitment he could go that high to the right team.