Matzek, Crow, Leake, Scheppers, White, Gibson, Greene....the Reds have some choices all right.
Oh man, here comes the cheapness... I can feel it.
In late September, when the Nationals clinched the first pick in the 2009 draft, many Mariners fans (myself included) were disappointed, assuming that San Diego State phenom Stephen Strasburg had just slipped through our fingers. While that may or may not be the case (the draft is still seven months away, after all), there is another pitcher that doesn’t get as much ink as Strasburg, but isn’t too far off, talent-wise.
That pitcher is Alex White, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound righthander for the University of North Carolina. Teammates with Dustin Ackley, the Tarheels are loaded this year, with two potential top-5 draft picks.
White grew up in Greenville, N.C. where he attended D.H. Conley High School. Prior to the 2006 draft, Baseball America ranked him as the 71st-best draft-eligible prospect. With good stuff and quality makeup, he led the Vikings to a 3-A state title. Here is some video footage from the championship game…
Despite being one of the top high school pitchers in the 2006 class, White slipped to the 14th round, when the Dodgers took him. He still wanted big-time money, reportedly asking for $1.4 million, and the Dodgers let him go to school instead.
White headed to Chapel Hill and joined the Tarheels rotation. He pitched in 19 games as the Tarheels’ Saturday starter and threw 98.1 innings, going 6-7 with a 4.94 ERA. He struck out 83 batters (19.1%) and walked 43 (11%). White’s best performance of the season came in the ACC title game against Virginia when he struck out five over seven scoreless innings. The Tarheels went on to Omaha that year, losing in the championship to Oregon State.
That summer, White played in the Cape Cod League for the Chatham Athletics. He appeared in seven games and started three of them. Over 25.2 innings, White struck out 31 hitters and walked just eight, posting a 2-1 record and maintaining a 2.10 ERA.
White returned to Chapel Hill last year for his sophomore season and improved all aspects of his game, shouldering the load as the team’s ace. He started 15 games and appeared in 20, throwing 101.2 innings, posting a 2.83 ERA and leading the nation in wins by going 13-3. White struck out 113 batters, good for 27% of those faced. Only nine other pitchers in the country racked up more strikeouts last season. He also cut his walk rate, issuing 42 walks (10%). The season earned him the ACC Pitcher of the Year award and he was a third-team All American for Baseball America.
After throwing more than 100 innings last year, White did not play baseball this summer. He’s been sharp during the Tarheels’ scrimmages this fall and is ready to go this spring.
With a heavy fastball that sits between 93-96, a plus slider and an occasional splitter, White is a force on the mound that Baseball America recently ranked the No. 2 draft-eligible prospect in the country. Even if the Mariners don’t get Strasburg, there are some nice consolation prizes and they will certainly be adding an impact player to the organization.
Selig's not having a good day
White's middle name is Bruce.
We can have the dynamic duo.
Im nervous
It will make my day just give me crow or matzek walt
Callis 100% correct so far, eh? Looks like it will be White unless...
“Every level he goes to, he is going to compete. They will know who he is at every level he goes to.” -- ED on EDLC
Do the right thing.
Draft Alex Bruce White.
I'm betting it's White. Signability.
Who is Callis?
nm
Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please. |