The Yankees have claimed righty Owen White off waivers from the Reds, per a workforce announcement. It’s their second waiver declare previously 20 minutes, as New York additionally claimed infielder Braden Shewmake from the Royals. The Shewmake declare introduced their 40-man roster to capability, so the Yankees have designated righty Allan Winans (one other waiver pickup) for project to be able to open a roster spot for White.
Like Shewmake, White is a former high choose — No. 55 total to the Rangers in 2018 — whose unique membership has moved on. He ranked among the many recreation’s top-100 prospects head into the 2023 season however has seen his inventory tumble within the years since. White posted a 4.22 ERA with a middling 17.2% strikeout price and 11.9% stroll price in 108 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A in 2023. He spent a lot of the 2024 marketing campaign again in Triple-A and was tagged for a 5.64 ERA in 99 frames with barely improved strikeout and stroll charges.
The 25-year-old White has pitched within the majors, however with exceeding brevity. He’s tossed a complete of seven MLB frames and been clobbered for 13 runs in that point. His velocity ticked up a bit when the Rangers moved him to the bullpen final yr, however Baseball America famous on this yr’s scouting report on him that his stuff had dropped usually relative to the purpose at which he was drafted. For a pitcher whose professional debut was delayed for about three years as a result of Tommy John surgical procedure and the canceled 2020 minor league season, a loss in stuff and step backward in improvement is unlucky however not essentially surprising.
Baseball America additionally that after a midseason grip change, White’s slider sharpened; the Yankees might properly be betting on some in-season adjustments which can be obscured by his broader struggles. White nonetheless has a minor league possibility remaining, to allow them to afford to take a bet on the previous high prospect and see if they’ll unlock a few of these beneficial properties over a bigger pattern and convert White right into a viable reduction possibility.
Extra to come back.
