Get To Know: Kernels 3B TJ White

[Seth Stohs]

T.J. White was the 18^th round selection of the Minnesota Twins in 2014 out of UNLV. His professional career was delayed several weeks due to an injury. In 2015, he leads the Cedar Rapids Kernels in games played, manning the hot corner at third base most nights.

Image courtesy of Seth Stohs

Born and raised in Las Vegas, T.J. White attended athletic powerhouse Bishop Gorman High School. It may be best known right now as the school that produced Cordell Broadus (Snoop Dogg’s son), but it has a strong baseball history too. In fact, former Twins outfielder Marty Cordova, who was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1995, is from the school.

While at Bishop Gorman, White teamed with some really good players, including Texas Rangers top prospect Joey Gallo. Gallo hit 42 home runs last year between Class A and AA after hitting 40 homers in 2013 in Low A.

They both play third base now, and they both played third base in high school. So, how did that work? Well, earlier in their years there, White played third base while Gallo played shortstop. That changed heading in to White’s senior season.

According to White, “My senior year, we switched. I played third up until my senior year in high school and he played short. We talked and went to the coach and said, ‘I want to play short and he’s going to get drafted as a third baseman.’ (The coach) said, ‘Alright, you guys do it.’ It was a good experience.”

When asked about it, Joey Gallo replicated White’s story. “I was playing short. He was playing third. He was going to go to college as a shortstop, and I was going to be a third baseman so we asked our coach to switch. Our coaches went ‘Yeah, alright. Do it.’ We just switched. We were a little amazed how easy it was to convince him.”

Gallo spoke very highly of the Twins third base prospect. “He’s always been one of my best teammates to play with it. He was always one of my best friends as well. We always did everything together. We were always in a big group together. He was always ready to play the game and always had a lot of fun. One of the best guys I’ve played with, that I can remember.”

While Gallo went to the Rangers with the 39^th overall pick in the 2012 draft, White knew where he was going after high school. He stayed at home and played an UNLV.

“Being from Vegas, it was a pretty easy choice because there were about nine guys including myself from in town that were all going there together. We all talked to each other and planned it out that way. So we had nine guys incoming from Vegas.”

Was Gallo the one that got away? “We tried! That’s for sure!”

While at UNLV, the teams experienced quite a bit of success. As you would expect with that many young players coming in together, that success didn’t happen right away. “First year was a little rough, but the next two years we did really well. We had good chemistry, having all played against each other and then with each other. It was fun.”

White played third, shortstop and second base. Mostly he played third base. “I think my sophomore year I played mostly all at short. My junior and freshman years were at third base.”

He spent a summer playing for the YD Red Sox in the Cape Cod League and really enjoyed the experience.

“It was a blast. It was awesome. Great baseball,” He continued, “The towns, small little cities they have there. You get to play against the top competition, the guys you hear about from the teams you don’t get to play. You get to play with them and against them.”

Last season, while playing in the conference tournament, T.J. White broke the hamate bone at the base of his hand. He continued to play, but it certainly affected his draft status. The Twins took him with their 18^th round pick.

“I always heard seven to twelve in the beginning. Then I had the injury. So I kind of knew. I broke my hamate the weekend of conference tournament. Then I played regionals with it. I actually had surgery the day before the draft. I kind of knew that would push me back a little bit.”

There was still no question that he would sign with the Twins. He told his UNLV coaches that he was going to sign. “I talked to the Twins and they said, ‘Rehab three weeks there.’ That way I didn’t have to take up a roster spot. So, I signed three weeks in and finished up my rehab.”

He went to Ft. Myers and got into eight games with the GCL Twins just to get some at-bats. He finished the season by playing in five games at Elizabethton.

“It was a little different. Coming back from the injury, it wasn’t ‘I’ve got to get into pro ball.’ It was more like ‘Get the hand to feel well.” I worked out a little bit. I got a lot of ABs. I wasn’t trying to put too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get healthy.”

White came to spring training this year, healthy and ready to compete. “It was a blast. I was finishing up working out and getting everything going. I feel good. Had a good spring training.”

White takes pride in his defense at third base saying “I’ve always been pretty solid.”

He is 5-10 and about 220 pounds. He’s stocky and very strong, but he also runs really well. “My speed is coming back, so I’m hoping to get a couple bags this year.”

Despite his strength, White hasn’t been a home run hitter. “I’ve always been a good contact hitter, two strikes has been one of my strengths.”

That said, it is something that he is looking to incorporate into his game. “I’ve been talking to Tommy (Watkins), trying to get a bit more power. I think that’s what I need to develop more. More power, so I think that’s one of the things we’re going to be working on. I’ve always been a doubles guy, gap-to-gap. Home runs is what we’re trying to produce. A little more pop, big guy.”

For hitting coach Tommy Watkins, it’s not just about the homers. “I don’t worry so much about home runs. Home runs come as they get older and they get their man strength as I like to stay. Just trying to get him to drop more and use his legs. He’s a guy that, when he stands up, he uses his legs and understand that we walk around on our legs all day long.”

White began the 2015 season slowly. Through the first 15 games, he was hitting just .215. Maybe it was the cold, but he has turned things around recently. In his last ten games, he is hitting .333/.386/.436 (.822). That’s a trend that we should see continue. As the power comes, White is certainly one to watch.

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[Hrbowski]

Hopefully he can provide some depth in the system at the hot corner.

[Steven Buhr]

White and Gordon combine to play excellent defense on the left side of the Kernels' infield. I don't think we should minimize the effect that has had on the outstanding stat lines for CR's pitching staff.

[Seth Stohs]

White and Gordon combine to play excellent defense on the left side of the Kernels' infield. I don't think we should minimize the effect that has had on the outstanding stat lines for CR's pitching staff.

Very good point, and that's not always a given in Low-A ball.