In this edition of the Pirates’ prospect report, we look at outfielder and all-around athlete Lonnie White Jr., who still has a long way to go before reaching the Major Leagues.
Lonnie White Jr., from Coatesville, PA, was regarded as a high athletic prospect in both football and baseball. when committing to Penn State for football in his junior year, scouts felt they might be able to entice him away from college when he stated he would play both sports for the Nittany Lions. White was selected by Pittsburgh in the 2021 Competitive Balance Round B draft, and after signing on with a $1.5 million signing bonus, he was officially ready to be a full-time baseball player.
White is the epitome of a raw prospect, with the athletic tools to succeed but the unknown of whether they will fully convert to baseball. Having said that, the former wide receiver has a natural ability to steal bases and cover a lot of territory in centerfield. His batting needs the greatest work at this moment, but his strength is a plus, and he has plenty of time to work on those concerns in Bradenton.
A glaring concern that has continually surfaced is the number of ailments White has experienced, albeit mostly soft tissue injuries that are keeping him off the field. The Pirates have claimed that they are not concerned since he simply needs time to prepare his body to baseball shape. Similarly, Michael Jordan struggled to return to basketball following his tenure with the White Socks because he had trained for baseball. Not to compare White to Jordan, but if the GOAT can struggle, so can he.
Despite his limited playing time, White made 44 appearances in Bradenton last year and showed some promise. White hit 8 home runs, had a.259 batting average, and a.395 on-base percentage. As previously indicated, he is a great baserunner, having scored 36 runs in 2023.
Lonnie White Jr. is the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 15th overall prospect, with a Major League ETA of 2026.
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