40-man breakdown: Mitchell White
by Rowan Kavner
(Editor’s Note: For the next few weeks, Dodger Insider will analyze a different member of the Dodgers’ 40-man roster every weekday. The series continues alphabetically with Mitchell White.)
Position: RHP
Previous Years with Dodgers: Zero (Minors only)
Age: 25
2019 Summary: Now ranked the Dodgers’ №11 overall prospect, the 2016 second-round pick started his 2019 season back with Double-A Tulsa and exploded out of the gates with a 2.10 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 37 strikeouts in 30 innings. He earned his first promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City. But injuries have at times inhibited White’s progress, and they literally popped back up when a nagging blister issue sent him back and forth from the injured list from June to August. White went 3–6 with a 6.50 ERA in 16 games (13 starts) with Oklahoma City, but his strikeout totals continued to intrigue as he fanned 68 batters in 63 2/3 innings. Between Tulsa and Oklahoma City, White’s 105 strikeouts established a career high. He ended his Triple-A season on a high note with four strikeouts in three scoreless innings.
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Best ’19 Moment: In White’s final two starts with Double-A Tulsa he tossed a combined 11 2/3 scoreless innings with 16 strikeouts, one walk and three hits allowed.
Standout Stat: White’s splits against righties and lefties were more stark last year. In 2018, he held righties to a .760 OPS and lefties to a .785 OPS. In 2019, he held righties to a .722 OPS while lefties posted an .857 OPS against him.
Interesting Fact: Walker Buehler isn’t the only Dodger to start a combined no-hitter in recent years. Last season, White threw the first four innings of a combined no-hitter for Double-A Tulsa on April 14 — shockingly, though, it came in defeat. Arkansas won 1–0 in the 10th inning on a bases-loaded walk.
Where He Stands: The talent is obvious in the 6-foot-3-inch prospect. He boasts three above-average scouting grades on his fastball, slider and curveball, according to his MLB.com report. When he’s synched up and at his best, he can mow down opponents. That helped get him his promotion to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster in November. The key for White to reach the next level, whether as a starter or reliever, will be health and consistency. To start, he may need to find a way to be more effective against lefties.
Past Breakdowns:
Scott Alexander
Pedro Báez
Austin Barnes
Matt Beaty
Cody Bellinger
Mookie Betts
Walker Buehler
Caleb Ferguson
Dylan Floro
Tony Gonsolin
Victor Gonzalez
Brusdar Graterol
Kiké Hernández
Kenley Jansen
Joe Kelly
Clayton Kershaw
Adam Kolarek
Gavin Lux
Dustin May
Zach McKinstry
Max Muncy
Jimmy Nelson
Joc Pederson
DJ Peters
Luke Raley
Edwin Ríos
Keibert Ruiz
Dennis Santana
Josh Sborz
Ross Stripling
Chris Taylor
Blake Treinen
Justin Turner
Julio Urías
