TOP 10 NL EAST

From the moment Thomas White stepped on a high school mound, he was viewed as the top lefthander available in the 2023 draft.

The Marlins clearly agreed. They drafted the Massachusetts prep 35th overall as the top southpaw in his class. His $4.1 million bonus was equivalent to mid first-round money.

White stands 6-foot-5 and has filled out his frame and modified his repertoire in pro ball to make him one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. As a 19-year-old in 2024, he quickly pitched his way to High-A while striking out 120 batters in 96 innings at two stops.

As with most young lefthanders, especially tall ones with power stuff, White will need to tighten his control and command.

Given the Marlins’ success in terms of cultivating young pitchers, there is no reason to believe White will fall short of expectations.

1 THOMAS WHITE LHP

Born: September 29, 2004. B-T: L-L. HT: 6-5. WT: 230. Drafted: HS—Andover, MA, 2023 (1st round supplemental). Signed by: Alex Smith.

TRACK RECORD: White was the clear-cut best lefthanded pitching prospect in the 2023 draft class. Despite falling to the supplemental round, he signed for a well over-slot $4.1 million as the 35th overall pick. He was sensational in his first full season in 2024, striking out nearly 30% of batters with a 2.81 ERA across two Class A levels. He also made strides with his strike-throwing, though he still walked 9.2% of batters faced. Encouragingly, he improved both from a run prevention and a control standpoint after his midseason promotion to High-A Beloit.