There’s not a ton of great baseball news out there right now.
On Feb. 28, the deadline self-imposed by MLB owners to complete a full 162-game season, the men responsible for taking care of the sport reportedly told players the league is willing to cancel a month’s worth of games. Rather than negotiate in good faith with their work force, those in power would see fit to rob the world of baseball at the highest level even longer.
During a time of year when bats should be cracking across Florida and Arizona, players like Bryce Harper are teasing joining other leagues until the owner-led lockout is over.
It’s bleak out there is what we’re saying.
But amid an MLB-less spring, there is one ray of sunshine beaming down in North Carolina that’s giving fans a reason to crane their necks towards college baseball.
His name is Tommy White. He’s a freshman at NC State. And all he does is launch mammoth home runs.
Tommy White cannot stop hitting homers.
With a long ball in each game of @NCStateBaseball’s doubleheader, the freshman now has 9 jacks in his first 8 games. pic.twitter.com/wg4NCguTOO
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 27, 2022
The 18-year-old out of IMG Academy in Florida stands 6’1, 220 lbs. and pairs all the energy his frame can muster with the type of hand-eye coordination that turns opposing pitchers into Little Leaguers.
Through eight games to begin his college career, White has nine home runs and 29 RBI in 34 at-bats—good for a .588 batting average.
The legend. pic.twitter.com/kAMLqNzQ3R
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) February 28, 2022
Not only has he recorded a hit in every game he’s played this season, he’s registered multiple hits in all but one contest. Oh, and he’s already been walked five times—including twice intentionally.
That certainly seems better than the alternative for opponents, which looks a lot like this:
Since y'all love them so much, we'll give you another 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 tweet today. pic.twitter.com/9Z7WYdxaKz
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) February 27, 2022
GO OFF, @tommywhite44‼️
He's the first player to hit three homers in a game since 2010.
B8 | #Pack9 20, Evansville 4 pic.twitter.com/WrTweqH2tU
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) February 18, 2022
IN TOMMY TANKS WE TRUST‼️
B4 | #Pack9 7, Quinnipiac 2 pic.twitter.com/NlyBSYKL55
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) February 26, 2022
That last clip was, indeed, a grand slam—his second home run of the game. It’s at this point we should note that Tommy Tanks only has three strikeouts this year. Some simple math would indicate he’s three times as likely to hit a home run as he is to go down on strikes.
Sure, it’s February, and NC State’s competition will get stiffer than the likes of Evansville, High Point, Longwood and Quinnipiac soon enough, but try telling that to Wolfpack alums who already want to workout with White.
Bro… we need to hit next off-season.. Need to learn this home run everyday thing! #TommyTanks https://t.co/zBI37ThMWz
— Trea Turner (@treavturner) February 26, 2022
Turner is far from the only one noticing White, either. With pro baseball on hold, anyone trying to get their baseball fix in can’t stop watching him send pitches into orbit.
Tommy White@NCStateBaseball
8 games
20-for-34
9 HRs
29 RBIs
2.062 OPSHe has hit more HRs than 260 of the 301 Division I college baseball teams.
9 HRs in first 8 career games … no one in MLB history has done that.
— Mike Monaco (@MikeMonaco_) February 28, 2022
don't often see a true freshman batting third to open the season, let alone on a team as good as NC State. first dinger of many 💪 https://t.co/xUPp8dOIgb
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) February 18, 2022
hi yes checking in with an update about Tommy White. yes yes, the true freshman who keeps hitting homers —- that guy. oh, what’s the update? he hit another homer. Tommy White did. he hit his 9th homer. Tommy White did that pic.twitter.com/AwVaF55bSd
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) February 27, 2022
Did Tommy White homer today?
Of course. https://t.co/egs7kpsdGp
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) February 26, 2022
TOMMY WHITE HAS DONE IT AGAIN FOR THE 6TH TIME ALREADY THIS SEASON!! @tommywhite44
HOW BOUT THE @NCStateBaseball FRESHMAN?!
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) February 26, 2022
“I’ve never experienced a hot streak like this,” White told MLB.com’s Nick Trujilo back when he had just seven home runs. “I think I had maybe five home runs in high school my senior year, so it’s pretty cool to go on this streak. I’m not really focused on how many I hit, just focused on hard contact, focusing on the game and the wins.”
And the legend only continues to grow.
MLB Pipeline had White ranked 107 overall in the 2021 draft, grading him him with 50 hit and 55 power (on a scale of 20-80) while pretty much nailing his profile at the plate:
“The big, strong right-handed hitter is all about the bat. White, thick and barrel-chested, has the chance to hit, and with plenty of power. He never gets cheated at the plate and has power to all fields, but scouts also like his approach and the balance he shows at the plate, with a knack for consistently barreling up the baseball.”
Somehow, even that was underselling him.
MLB owners may take away a lot of joy from baseball fans this year, but Tommy White will do his best to restore as much as he can by himself.
