- Full name Tommy Whiteman
- Born
- Profile Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Whiteman got himself back in the Astros' good graces in 2004, a year after he turned them off with a mediocre performance and a poor attitude. Last season, he was more driven and focused and took a much better approach at the plate. The lone negative came in mid-July, when he broke the tip of his right thumb during a bunt attempt. He played just one more game before the Arizona Fall League, and had he not been hurt he would have received big league playing time in September. Whiteman continues to show five tools at shortstop. He hit a career-high .320 in 2004 and has good gap power for a middle infielder. An average runner, he moves well and has a strong arm and sure hands at shortstop. After getting too bulky in 2003, he got stronger without losing flexibility last season. Whiteman still needs more strength. His swing can get long, making it a struggle for him to catch up to quality fastballs, and he tends to chase high pitches. He'll play every day at Triple-A, but he may start to push big league incumbent Adam Everett because Whiteman has a superior bat. He would become the first member of the Crow Nation to reach the big leagues. -
Whiteman, whose Native American name is Owner of Outstanding Horses, is believed to be the first pro athlete from the Crow Nation. Along with Jimmy Barrett, he was one of the system's biggest disappointments in 2003. He tailed off badly after a hot start in Double-A, with his performance declining each month. Even worse, he refused to take responsibility or acknowledge the slippage. The Astros finally got his attention by moving him to third base and playing Chris Burke at shortstop, not that the move jump-started Whiteman's bat. His trip to the Arizona Fall League was a waste of time, as he went 0-for-9 before leaving with soreness in his right scapula. What has been especially frustrating for the Astros is that Whiteman has shown five tools at shortstop. He has the bat speed to hit for average and gap power, and he's a solid-average runner once he gets going. Defensively, he has plus instincts and hands, and his quick first step gives him good range. But Whiteman has to show more energy and dedication to become a big league regular. He needs more strength and plate discipline, as he can be beaten with good fastballs inside and he chases breaking balls. He hasn't corrected a tendency to flip his throws on routine plays, which hurts his accuracy, though that may have been related to his scapula problem. The injury only required rest and rehabilitation, not surgery, so he'll be good to go for spring training. Because they've put him on the 40-man roster for two straight years, the Astros will push Whiteman to Triple-A in 2004. If he doesn't make adjustments and improve, he won't be protected a third time. -
A Native American whose given name is Owner of Outstanding Horses, Whiteman is the first pro athlete from the Crow Nation. Like Chris Burke, he had difficulty with the jump from low Class A to Double-A in 2002. Whiteman, who missed a month with a hamstring injury, rebounded in the Arizona Fall League, where he earned all-star honors by hitting .330 and making just two errors in 26 games. He's an offensive shortstop who's better suited than Burke for the position because he has a stronger arm. Whiteman flashes all five tools, including the ability to hit for average and gap power. He's not fazed by power fastballs. Tall and rangy, he gobbles up grounders at short. Whiteman is 23 and has yet to prove he can hit above low Class A. To do so, he probably will have to draw more walks. He sometimes drops his arm slot and flips his throws on routine plays, hurting his accuracy. Burke and Whiteman will be teammates at Round Rock again this year. Whiteman will get most of the time at shortstop and occasionally will play third base. He might have enough bat for the hot corner if he has to play there full-time down the road. -
Whiteman was as pleasant a surprise as anyone in the system last season. He hit .250 with one homer at short-season Auburn in his pro debut, then led the South Atlantic League in slugging and Class A shortstops in batting in 2001. He isn't Alex Rodriguez, but Whiteman shows all five tools at shortstop. He hits the ball where it's pitched, has gap power and average speed. He should fill out and get stronger. Built like a young Cal Ripken Jr., Whiteman resembles him defensively. Tall and rangy, he's fluid at shortstop, gets to the balls he should and has enough arm strength. Whiteman tends to flip the ball sidearm, which makes some routine plays closer than they should be. He'll have to improve his plate discipline at the upper levels of the minors. Both Chris Burke and Whiteman stand a good chance of playing in Double-A this year, which means they'll have to work out a timeshare at shortstop. It's possible they could share that position, with Whiteman also getting time at second or third base. Long term, he could be the second-base half of a doubleplay combination with Burke.
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Infield Arm in the Houston Astros in 2005