On January 6, the Reds added a former top prospect via trade, in ex-Rangers prospect Owen White. Cincinnati gave up cash considerations for White, a top prospect two years ago but an arm who’s struggled at Triple-A and the Majors over the last two seasons.
A Look at White
As we noted when Owen White made his MLB debut in 2023, the ex-Rangers pitching prospect was a second-round pick in 2018 who didn’t debut professional for three years. When he finally did, White proved to be a very intriguing arm, flashing plus stuff, including a sharp curveball and mid-90s fastball.
White made his MLB debut in 2023 and made two relief appearances before being sent down to the Minors. With Round Rock (AAA), the 25-year-old, he threw 52.1 IP but the numbers were not great. White struck out (32) as many as he walked and gave up 10 home runs in a hitter-friendly circuit.
The 2024 campaign saw White slip further and further down the organizational food chain. He walked 48 over 99 frames with the Express and posted a 5.64 ERA. In brief time at the MLB level, White was ineffective. He didn’t get a single out in his season debut on May 8 against the A’s, allowing three runs.
White made two more appearances and conceded five earned runs over three innings. In total, a 24.00 ERA and a 3.33 WHIP with the Rangers.
While at the MLB level, White continued to flash intriguing stuff. His cutter showed above-average movement to the glove side (1.9” above league average in 2023), along with good carry (16.3” IVB in 2023) on the four-seamer, as well.
There’s also a curveball with depth, although he had some poor luck on it in 2024, including at the MLB level. A case in point was in September, when Luis Guillorme notched a double off a curve that nearly was in the dirt.
Those pitches are part of a lengthy arsenal for White, who has seven pitches in his arsenal.
The Reds gave up future cash considerations for Owen White.
Analysis
The Reds get a buy-low arm in White, who looked incredibly just two years earlier. In the Minors that season, White struck out 104 over 80 frames and ranked among the best pitchers in the Rangers’ farm system, along with Brock Porter, Kumar Rocker, and Jack Leiter.
That group, for the most part, hasn’t panned out. Porter walked 24 over 19 innings last season, while Leiter’s dealt with command and repeatability problems for years. Rocker debuted with a smash in September 2024.
For White, it’s a fresh start. The Reds have a rotation that’s virtually set, with Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Nick Martinez, Brandon Williamson, Brady Singer, and Andrew Abbott among the main rotation options. Depth has been an issue for the Reds in recent seasons, thanks to injuries. Sixteen pitchers made at least one start in 2024 for the Reds.
It’ll be interesting to see what exact changes the Reds will make with White. For what it’s worth, White did get good sinking action on the two-seamer, a pitch that naturally plays well off a sweeper, which he has. Both are side-spinning pitches. The 25-year-old only used the sinker 1% at the MLB level last year.