3 unique draft prospects for the Pittsburgh Pirates to keep on their radar

Tommy White

Tommy White has long been someone college baseball fans have had their eye on. White set the freshman home run record in 2022 with NC State. He has since transferred to Louisiana State University, where he has continued to mash SEC pitchers. Now, entering the draft, White has a chance of still being on the board when the Pirates select their competitive balance pick.

White is in the midst of his worst college season but is still batting .337/.412/.675. It's the first time he's posting a slugging percentage below .700. But White already has 24 home runs and a .338 isolated slugging percentage in 289 plate appearances. White has never struck out much, and this hasn't changed in 2024. He's gone down on strike three 12.1% of the time. But his 9.3% walk rate is below average.

One thing is for certain about White, and that's his power. White didn't earn his nickname "Tommy Tanks" for nothing. When White makes contact, it's very loud contact. He's a big 6'1", 230 pounds, and can use his raw strength to generate significant exit velocity. White also makes a lot of contact. He can reach outside the zone and hit things with authority. He's also an all-fields hitter, able to drive the ball wherever on the diamond.

But there are some red flags about White. The first is that he'll probably have to move across the diamond to first base long term. White has not shown great instincts at third base. While his arm is okay, he lacks even average range already. He's a well below-average runner, which also affects his lack of range. Although White is good at making contact outside the zone, it is reasonable to be concerned about how that will play once he reaches pro ball as he'll try and expand the zone frequently. That approach has worked in college but could get exposed in the minor leagues.

White certainly has a very high offensive ceiling. Sure, he's likely a 1B/DH long-term, and his swing decisions will probably need some sharpening once he is drafted. But there's a lot of power potential in White's bat. It's not overly likely that White will still be available when the Pirates select their competitive balance pick, but I also don't believe the chances are zero either. If he is still available, this would be the big bat the Pirates' system needs.