Colby White

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #20 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: White has been developed to be a closer. He finished off games at Pearl River (Miss.) JC for two years, served as a setup man at Mississippi State and then moved right back into serving as a closer in pro ball. He climbed four minor league levels in 2021, and seemed ready to compete for a spot in the Rays bullpen, but he tore his ulnar collateral ligament and had Tommy John surgery in April 2022.
  
  Scouting Report: White has the stuff to be a moment-of-truth reliever if he returns to his pre-injury form. As a short righthander with an extremely lively 94-98 mph fastball that consistently gets above hitters' bats at the top of the zone, White also mixes in a low-80s plus slider and a developing splitter. His changeup is below-average, but does keep lefties on their toes. White doesn't try to work the corners, but his fringe-average control is enough as he has enough stuff to beat hitters in the zone even if he's not painting the corners.
  
  The Future: White was expected to be part of the Rays' bullpen in 2022 before his elbow injury caused a delay to those plans. The Rays still added him to the 40-man roster in the offseason, figuring that someone with his back-of-the-bullpen stuff would be nabbed if left to the Rule 5 draft. He should be ready to return by May or June, and could play a factor in the Rays bullpen in the second half of 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70. Slider: 60. Splitter: 45. Changeup: 40. Control: 45.
• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #15 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: While many relievers are converted starters, White has been a reliever since his first day of college baseball. He was the closer for Pearl River (Miss.) JC for two years and then a setup man for Mississippi State. In 2021, he started the season at Low-A, but blistered through four levels of the full-season minors, dominating at every step. His 104 strikeouts were seventh-most among MiLB relievers.
  
  Scouting Report: Expect White to be one of the next of the Rays’ many useful reliever discoveries. His fastball is a plus-plus pitch that should cause hitters problems no matter the level. White has plenty of velocity (94-98 mph) and his fastball has exceptional carry up in the zone. Adding to hitter’s issues is his short arm action and an ear-flipping release point that makes it hard for hitters to pick up the ball. He also throws an above-average mid-80s slider that has more depth than tilt. His changeup is a clear third pitch, but it helps ensure he’s reasonably effective against lefties. He also toyed with a splitter with forkball-like action late in the year. He has average control.
  
  The Future: White has less than 100 innings of pro experience, but it’s not outlandish to expect him to help the Rays in 2022. His fastball is MLB-ready and his slider isn’t far away. He has the potential to get late-inning, high-leverage outs.
  

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #426 prospect in 2019 draft
  After spending two years at Pearl River (Miss.) JC, where he was named the team's most valuable pitcher after a strong 2018 season, White transferred to Mississippi State, where he's been a valuable addition to the Bulldogs' bullpen. Through 22.2 innings in relief, White has posted a 3.57 ERA with 41 strikeouts and just six walks. He throws a fastball that averages around 94 mph and he pushes that up into the upper 90s as well. He doesn't have much track record, but his performance in the SEC and big fastball could be enough to give him a shot at the next level.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: White has been developed to be a closer. He finished off games at Pearl River (Miss.) JC for two years, served as a setup man at Mississippi State and then moved right back into serving as a closer in pro ball. He climbed four minor league levels in 2021, and seemed ready to compete for a spot in the Rays bullpen, but he tore his ulnar collateral ligament and had Tommy John surgery in April 2022.
  
  Scouting Report: White has the stuff to be a moment-of-truth reliever if he returns to his pre-injury form. As a short righthander with an extremely lively 94-98 mph fastball that consistently gets above hitters' bats at the top of the zone, White also mixes in a low-80s plus slider and a developing splitter. His changeup is below-average, but does keep lefties on their toes. White doesn't try to work the corners, but his fringe-average control is enough as he has enough stuff to beat hitters in the zone even if he's not painting the corners.
  
  The Future: White was expected to be part of the Rays' bullpen in 2022 before his elbow injury caused a delay to those plans. The Rays still added him to the 40-man roster in the offseason, figuring that someone with his back-of-the-bullpen stuff would be nabbed if left to the Rule 5 draft. He should be ready to return by May or June, and could play a factor in the Rays bullpen in the second half of 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70. Slider: 60. Splitter: 45. Changeup: 40. Control: 45.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: White has been developed to be a closer. He finished off games at Pearl River (Miss.) JC for two years, served as a setup man at Mississippi State and then moved right back into serving as a closer in pro ball. He climbed four minor league levels in 2021, and seemed ready to compete for a spot in the Rays bullpen, but he tore his ulnar collateral ligament and had Tommy John surgery in April 2022.
  
  Scouting Report: White has the stuff to be a moment-of-truth reliever if he returns to his pre-injury form. As a short righthander with an extremely lively 94-98 mph fastball that consistently gets above hitters' bats at the top of the zone, White also mixes in a low-80s plus slider and a developing splitter. His changeup is below-average, but does keep lefties on their toes. White doesn't try to work the corners, but his fringe-average control is enough as he has enough stuff to beat hitters in the zone even if he's not painting the corners.
  
  The Future: White was expected to be part of the Rays' bullpen in 2022 before his elbow injury caused a delay to those plans. The Rays still added him to the 40-man roster in the offseason, figuring that someone with his back-of-the-bullpen stuff would be nabbed if left to the Rule 5 draft. He should be ready to return by May or June, and could play a factor in the Rays bullpen in the second half of 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70. Slider: 60. Splitter: 45. Changeup: 40. Control: 45.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: While many relievers are converted starters, White has been a reliever since his first day of college baseball. He was the closer for Pearl River (Miss.) JC for two years and then a setup man for Mississippi State. In 2021, he started the season at Low-A, but blistered through four levels of the full-season minors, dominating at every step. His 104 strikeouts were seventh-most among MiLB relievers.
  
  Scouting Report: Expect White to be one of the next of the Rays’ many useful reliever discoveries. His fastball is a plus-plus pitch that should cause hitters problems no matter the level. White has plenty of velocity (94-98 mph) and his fastball has exceptional carry up in the zone. Adding to hitter’s issues is his short arm action and an ear-flipping release point that makes it hard for hitters to pick up the ball. He also throws an above-average mid-80s slider that has more depth than tilt. His changeup is a clear third pitch, but it helps ensure he’s reasonably effective against lefties. He also toyed with a splitter with forkball-like action late in the year. He has average control.
  
  The Future: White has less than 100 innings of pro experience, but it’s not outlandish to expect him to help the Rays in 2022. His fastball is MLB-ready and his slider isn’t far away. He has the potential to get late-inning, high-leverage outs.
  
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  After spending two years at Pearl River (Miss.) JC, where he was named the team's most valuable pitcher after a strong 2018 season, White transferred to Mississippi State, where he's been a valuable addition to the Bulldogs' bullpen. Through 22.2 innings in relief, White has posted a 3.57 ERA with 41 strikeouts and just six walks. He throws a fastball that averages around 94 mph and he pushes that up into the upper 90s as well. He doesn't have much track record, but his performance in the SEC and big fastball could be enough to give him a shot at the next level.