Thomas White Transcends 2023 Draft Class, Plus Notes On Early Underclass Standouts

Thomas White, LHP, Massachusetts (2023)

White isn’t just the top pitcher in the 2023 class, he’s one of the best 16-year-old lefties to come around in years. He pitched on Monday morning at the Perfect Game Super25 17U New England Super Qualifier in Massachusetts, where in four innings he struck out 11 of the 17 batters he faced, issuing two walks with two hits allowed and one hit by pitch. At 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, White pitched mostly at 90-93 mph, touching 95. He has a low-effort delivery with a remarkably easy operation for a pitcher his age and size. White gets good extension out front as well, so the ball jumps on hitters even faster than they’re expecting. He leaned heavily on his fastball in this outing, mixing in a curveball and a slider that he has show feel to spin but were inconsistent yesterday, along with a changeup.

 

The more interesting question with White isn’t whether he’s the best pitcher in the 2023 class, but where he would go if he were eligible for the 2021 draft. Compared to 2021 players, there’s less history with White, who goes to Phillips Academy (Andover, Mass.), which didn’t allow outside spectators (including scouts, media and even parents) at nearly all of their home and road games this spring.

The top three high school lefties on the BA 500 right now (with their overall ranking) are:

41. Frank Mozzicato, Connecticut: White is younger but already throws harder than Mozzicato, who scrapes 93 mph and sits around 88-91 mph. Mozzicato has an edge on White with his curveball (one of the best high school breaking balls in the country), and they both have excellent deliveries, physical projection and pitchability for their ages.

35. Joshua Hartle, North Carolina: White also has more present velocity than Hartle, who has topped out at 93-94 mph and has sat more upper 80s to low 90s this spring. They have similar size (6-foot-5, 195 pounds) and Hartle also earns good reviews for his feel for pitching.

28. Anthony Solometo, New Jersey: Topping out at 96 mph, Solometo has a slight edge on present velocity over White, though White probably projects to throw harder long term. White is younger and has a better delivery than Solometo, but Solometo has a more refined slider and command right now.

All three of those pitchers have a chance to go in the back of the first round next month. You can make an argument to put White in any order among that group, including ahead of Solometo. Wherever he should fall, just the fact that he’s in the discussion here among the best lefthanders in the country two classes ahead of him speaks to how much talent White has.

Nik Sanders, C, Texas (2023)

Sanders had an explosive showing at the Prep Baseball Report National Program Invitational, blasting three home runs in three days, leading USA Prime National to the 16U championship. Sanders gets his swing started with a big leg kick and takes an aggressive hack, but he has been consistently on time and one of the highest level offensive performers in the class. At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Sanders’ athleticism is evident in the way he moves behind the plate, with a chance to develop into a power-hitting catcher. He’s a Texas commit.

 

Campbell Smithwick, C, South Carolina (2023)

Smithwick showed some of the best pure hitting ability among the 2023 players at the NPI. He’s young for the class, turning 16 next month, but he has an advanced swing that’s calm and balanced with good bat path through the hitting zone. At 6 feet, 175 pounds, Smithwick showed a good offensive approach and flashed power as well, pulling a home run to right field during the NPI. Smithwick’s offense stood out, but he also recorded a 1.95-second pop time in a game as well. He’s a Mississippi commit.

 

Kevin McGonigle, SS, Pennsylvania (2023)

McGonigle won the MVP award at the 16U Ultimate Baseball Championship in West Palm Beach, Fla. last week, going 9-for-17 (.529) with two triples, a double, two walks, two strikeouts and five stolen bases for the Canes National team. An Auburn commit at Monsignor Bonner in Drexel, Penn., McGonigle is 5-foot-11, 185 pounds with a compact lefthanded stroke and good plate coverage, showing the ability to go with where the ball is pitched and make contact to all parts of the field. He has good actions at shortstop along with game savvy that helps everything play up.

 

P.J. Morlando, C, South Carolina (2024)

Morlando hit well at the NPI and followed up with another big performance for the Canes National 15U team at the UBC, where he went 7-for-14 (.500) with two home runs, a double and four walks. Morlando is an offensive-minded catcher with a big frame (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) and a nice lefthanded swing. He showed the ability to drive the ball in the air with impact, both to the pull side and the opposite way. Morlando is a Mississippi State commit.

 

Zach Wadas, 1B/OF, Arizona (2023)

Wadas was another UBC standout for the Canes National 16U team, going 6-for-13 (.462) with two doubles and four walks. Wadas has a large frame (6-foot-4, 200 pounds) with power that stands out now from the left side of the plate with the bat speed and physical projection for that tool to spike up more as he fills out. A Texas Christian commit, Wadas has some swing and miss in his game that’s expected from a long-limbed 16-year-old, but he has also performed well and has significant offensive upside. He also moves surprisingly well for his size, showing average speed underway, though he will likely slow down as he gets bigger and stronger.