Athletics select 3B Tommy White with the 40th overall pick in 2024 MLB Draft

White is a great hitter and a high tier pickup for Oakland

With their second round pick, 40th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Oakland Athletics selected third baseman Tommy White out of LSU. Oakland will likely use some of the savings from Nick Kurtz to sign White.

Bio

DOB: 03/02/2003

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 228 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

Rankings

Baseball America: 30

MLB Pipeline: 20

ESPN: 29

Introducing Tommy White

The Athletics went with an under slot option in the first round, and that gives them a ton of flexibility later in the draft. Their first use of that is LSU third baseman Tommy White, who is one of the top college hitters in this draft. White hit 20+ home runs in every season of his college career, 24 each in his last two seasons after transferring to LSU, and has slowly improved his contact rates. White has plus power at least, and high level bat speed that allows him to barrel balls to all fields. White will need to improve his approach as he has a tendency to chase out of the zone, but his bat-to-ball and power combination is hard to find at this stage of the draft. White’s ultimate defensive home is a question thanks to very poor footspeed, but he has made improvements and some hope he can stick there as fringe average.

First Reaction

I love this pick for Oakland. This gives them two potential middle-of-the-order hitters from one draft, and White is a player I am extremely high on. If he doesn’t stick at third base that could lead to some interesting decisions down the road, but at the very least he should hit at a high level. White will rank very highly for me on my personal top Athletics prospects, and could be a guy who gets to the big leagues quickly. I am worried somewhat by his approach, but I love White as a high energy, high makeup player. This pick is an A grade for me.