Reliever Colby White Puts Himself On Rays’ Radar

Righthander Colby White covered a lot of ground last year.

The 2019 sixth-rounder from Mississippi State pitched his way through four levels to reach Triple-A Durham. Along the way, the 23-year-old reliever posted 10 saves and a 1.52 ERA while striking out 99 in 59.1 innings.

Now, White looks to take the next step to Tampa Bay.

The Rays didn’t know exactly what they had initially. White looked ordinary in his pro debut with short-season Hudson Valley in 2019, and then like most minor leaguers he sat out 2020.

“He came into spring training last year, and the stuff he was featuring on the back fields really separated from his peers,’’ said Kevin Ibach, the Rays’ senior director of pro personnel and pro scouting.

“I think the last time we had (coaches and staff) gravitate to see a reliever on the back fields who was a little bit under the radar . . . was when Diego Castillo was in the minor leagues.

“That was a pretty good indicator early on that his stuff was in place, his velocity was really good, the slider was pretty interesting.’’

White combined his dynamic repertoire with an aggressive and fearless approach, trying to create what he calls “a guessing game” for the hitters by throwing all three of his pitches with the same arm speed, and usually making it work.

White had to adapt as he moved up. He was able to use his fastball to dominate at Low-A Charleston but had to use his slider more at High-A Bowling Green. Hemixed in his splitter more when he got to Double-A Montgomery.

“He was forced to evolve as a pitcher,’’ Ibach said. “Sometimes that process takes years to happen. You just ride your fastball for a whole season, then it’s the next year before you start involving your other pitches.’’

White was in the pool of potential candidates if the Rays needed a fresh arm during the 2021 postseason. That didn’t happen, but he is positioned and poised to make the jump this year.

COOL RAYS

— Righthander Tyler Zombro is making what he acknowledges is a “miraculous” comeback this spring, given the severity of the injury sustained last June when he was struck in the head by a line drive while pitching for Triple-A Durham. Zombro’s early bullpen sessions went well and he expects to be ready for the start of the minor league season.

— Righthander Nick Bitsko, the Rays’ 2020 first-round pick out of high school, is recovered from labrum repair surgery and slated to make his long-awaited pro debut early this season. Bitsko also made, at the team’s suggestion, some adjustments to his arm action.

“He’s on a really good path right now, trending in the right direction so far,’’ Rays pitching coordinator Jorge Moncada said.