Note: Along with the rest of MLB, Mariners spring training is shut down as sports copes with the novel coronavirus. Before the doors closed Thursday, Jim Caple caught up with rookie Evan White.
PEORIA, AZ. — Just 23, 1B Evan White has not played in the major leagues, and played only four games at AAA Tacoma – in 2018. He played the 2019 season with the AA Arkansas Travelers, where he batted .293 with 18 home runs in 92 games.
Despite White not having played in the majors, the Mariners nonetheless signed him to a six-year, $24 million contract this winter because they think he’s ready to be good now. It was the first time Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto has signed a player from AA to a large major league deal.
“In theory, it seems like a lot of money,’’ Dipoto said. “For $24 million, it’s way more money than most people will ever make in their lives. But for us, it seems like a reasonable bet to place in a player that we believe in.
“We see him as central to the formation of this roster. He’s the right person. We trust his maturity and his ability to deal with the inevitable ups and downs, the struggles that come for young players. And that’s really the only hump you need to get over when you have his level of talent. We trust the person.’’
Naturally, White was delighted.
“It’s definitely exciting,’’ he said. “Definitely, I believe in the organization, and for them to believe in me as well is special. It’s a dream come true. You work your whole life and your goal is to get to the big leagues so you have to go out there each and every day and work your butt off and earn it.
“It’s something you hear about. Being in that situation yourself is incredible. It’s something you don’t expect but it’s a dream come true for sure.’’
Dipoto also thinks fans will be happy about this contract, as they were a generation earlier when Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez and Jay Buhner earned long-term deals.
“In theory, if you do this and pick the right people, then you look up in six or eight or 10 years and your fan base was able to embrace players because they knew they would be there,’’ he said.
White, 24 in late April, grew up in Columbus, OH., where we was a huge Reds fan (he loved Griffey when the former Mariner played for Cincinnati). He started playing first base because he is left-handed. He went to college at the University of Kentucky, where he batted .318, .376 and .373 in his three seasons there. The Mariners picked him in the first round, 17th overall, of the 2017 draft.
A square-built 6-foot-3, White handles his position well, demonstrating the point during a spring training game, making a dazzling dive of a catch to stop a sharp line drive. Asked whether White was a “pretty good’’ fielder, manager Scott Servais said, “Defensively, he’s better than pretty good. He’s really good.’’
White says that veteran infielders Kyle Seager and Dee Gordon have been helpful. He also hit .364 during spring training. The hope is that whenever the season starts, he can approach the numbers he had in AA. In 365 at-bats, he was .293/.350/.488 with 18 homers and 55 RBI, with 92 strikeouts and 29 walks.
“Since day one, he’s been really consistent,’’ Servais said. “We all know defensively he’s really gifted. Soft hands and picks balls up from the dirt. With the bat, his swing has been good. Balls in certain parts of the strike zone he handles better than other parts. He’s got some adjustability to his swing, so I think he’s going to be just fine.
“How many home runs he’ll hit, I have no idea. But as long as he continues to have good swing decisions, he’ll be just fine.’’
White understands this is a developmental year for the Mariners as well as him.
“I think as a team, no matter the situation, we’re going to go out there and try our hardest and win as many games as possible,’’ White said. “The biggest goal this year is to continue to learn and continue to do my routine. Try to break down pitches at the big league level.’’
White knows the leap from AA to an MLB starting job right out of spring training is a rare feat, but he has bigger plans.
“I want to get there and stay there,” he said. “It’s something you’re working your entire life for. It’s a crazy thing how things have changed in a year.”
4 Comments
Maybe the suspension of play is a good thing for White. Considering how some players during the Jack Zduriencik era were rushed up after cruising through the minors White might be able to learn from his teammates on what it’s like at the MLB level. Word has been about resuming play in June and I’m assuming White would either start in Tacoma and get a June call up or be sent down around that time if play was never suspended.
Not sure when play will start — it should start soon — but hope Evan does very well.
Agreed. The M’s have fielded players like AD, Tino and Olerud at 1B but haven’t sent a 1B to the All-Star Game since Ole. Hoping Evan changes that.
Let’s hope so.