LSU Star's MLB Call-Up
Oakland Athletics Call Up LSU Standout Tommy White for Anticipated Major League Debut
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Key Points
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Athletics manager Mark Kotsay publicly praised Tommy White after Spring Training, saying he left a good impression on the Major League staff and showed continued development off the offseason.
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White is a two-time LSU national champion who blasted 48 home runs across his two seasons with the Tigers and drove in 175 runs, following a standout two-year stint at LSU after beginning his college career at NC State where he earned ACC Freshman of the Year.
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White posted a .303/.345/.489 line in 55 Triple-A games for Las Vegas, adding 12 doubles and nine home runs with 47 RBIs, highlighting his strong hitting in the minors ahead of his big-league debut.
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Scouts note a high-risk, high-reward profile: a very low walk rate (about 4.8%) and a 50% ground-ball rate temper his power upside, and he’s viewed as a below-average defender at third with some upside at first; he sits around 11th in the A’s farm-system rankings per Baseball America.
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With Nick Kurtz’s status affecting positional alignment, White is expected to initially get time at first base, with a potential move to third if Kurtz returns to health and performance.
The Oakland Athletics are calling up infielder Tommy White for his Major League Baseball debut, set for their series opener against the Washington Nationals WBRZ. White, 23, spent 55 games at Triple-A Las Vegas this season, hitting .303 with nine home runs and 47 RBIs On3.
To make room, the A's are also activating utilityman Donovan Walton and sending Joey Meneses and Brian Serven down to Triple-A SSBCrack. White was drafted 40th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, just one year removed from college ball at LSU LSU Reveille.
From LSU National Champion to MLB Debut
White built his reputation at LSU with a two-year run that ended in back-to-back national championships. He blasted 48 home runs and drove in 175 runs across his two seasons with the Tigers LSU Reveille. Before LSU, he played at NC State, where he earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors.
His debut will come with a familiar face in the dugout. White joins at least one other former LSU teammate already on the Athletics' active roster LSU Reveille. Manager Mark Kotsay praised White after Spring Training, saying he left a strong impression on the big-league staff and showed real growth in the offseason NBC Sports.
Strong Triple-A Numbers Set the Stage
White posted a .303/.345/.489 line in 55 games for the Las Vegas Aviators this season On3. He added 12 doubles and nine home runs to go with 47 RBIs. Those numbers were enough to convince Oakland he was ready for the next step SSBCrack.
The call-up comes quickly after his 2024 draft selection. White went 40th overall, making him one of the faster risers in the A's system WBRZ. NBC Sports called him a "23-year-old corner infielder" with tools the team believes can translate to the majors NBC Sports.
Scouts Flag Real Concerns Alongside the Power Upside
White's profile comes with clear red flags. His walk rate sits around just 4.8%, which is very low. He also hits ground balls about 50% of the time. Both numbers could limit his power against big-league pitchers who can pound the strike zone.
Defensively, scouts view him as below average at third base. He ranks around 11th in Oakland's farm system according to Baseball America. With first baseman Nick Kurtz dealing with health issues, White is expected to start at first base for now, with a possible shift to third later.
What White's Role Looks Like in Oakland
The A's are a young, rebuilding team, which gives White a real chance to play every day. The roster move — sending Meneses and Serven to Triple-A — signals Oakland is ready to give White regular at-bats SSBCrack. His ceiling, scouts say, is an everyday infielder who can hit for power in the middle of a lineup.
White's debut against Washington gives him a chance to face big-league pitching for the first time. How he handles the step up — especially his plate discipline and ability to lift the ball — will tell a lot about his long-term fit in Oakland's plans NBC Sports.
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