03 Apr

whatever happened to …

Colby White, the ex-Mississippi State standout from Hattiesburg, is pitching at Triple-A Durham in Tampa Bay’s system, presumably healthy after being stalled by arm issues the last two seasons. In two outings (two innings) for the Bulls, the 25-year-old right-hander has not allowed a run and has struck out four. His career ERA over parts of four pro seasons is 1.70. Drafted out of MSU in 2019, White blew through four levels of the minors in 2021, quite a feat. But in the spring of 2022, he had Tommy John surgery, missed all of that season and managed just 24 appearances in 2023. He finished last season at Double-A Montgomery, where he made eight scoreless appearances and registered five holds. White is on the Rays’ 40-man roster and surely will get a big league look this season when the Rays need some bullpen help.

13 Sep

movin’ on up

Capping a rapid rise through the minor leagues this season, Colby White made his Triple-A debut on Sunday, pitching 1 2/3 innings in relief for the Durham Bulls. The former Mississippi State star began his second year in pro ball at the Low-A level for Tampa Bay, advanced to High-A, then Double-A and got the promotion to Durham last week. “This is my first full season, and I’m in Triple-A,” the 2019 draftee told The Columbian-Progress of Columbia. “It’s pretty cool.” White played at West Marion High and Pearl River Community College before signing with MSU, where he posted a 3.12 ERA in 27 games in 2019 on a staff that included Ethan Small, J.T. Ginn and Cole Gordon. Tampa Bay drafted the hard-throwing right-hander in the sixth round, and he made 15 appearances at the rookie level that summer. After the 2020 COVID-19 hiatus, White has been nothing short of sensational this season: 1.49 ERA, 10 saves, 93 strikeouts and 12 walks in 54 1/3 innings over the four levels. He reportedly touched 100 mph in an outing with Montgomery at Trustmark Park in Pearl last week. P.S. Ole Miss product Lance Lynn returned from an injured list stint (knee) on Sunday to throw five scoreless innings for the Chicago White Sox against Boston. He yielded two hits, no walks and fanned nine. Ocean Springs native Garrett Crochet followed Lynn and got five outs in a game the first-place White Sox would win 2-1 on Leury Garcia’s walk-off homer. … Former State standout Brandon Woodruff (9-8, 2.48) was held out of a slated start on Sunday for first-place Milwaukee because of a stomach ailment. He’ll go Wednesday. … Ex-Bulldogs ace Dakota Hudson, rehabbing in St. Louis’ system (see previous posts), went five innings Sunday and got a win for Double-A Springfield.