2009 Indians 1st Round Pick: RHP Alex White

With the 15th pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, the Cleveland Indians select: RHP Alex White - UNC
6'3" 190 lbs.

UPDATE (9:37 PM EST): Dennis Nosco
Here are a few links that might be beneficial:
2009 Stats
2009 CWS Bracket; see White pitch Sunday
College Baseball Blog article (with video)
Real Baseball Intelligence Scouting Report

UPDATE (9:36 PM EST): Information courtesy of Anthony Castrovince
"Because White already is nearing 100 innings this season, the Indians, upon signing him, probably wouldn't use him much in the Minors this year.

"We'll probably slow-play it once we do get him signed," Grant said. "We'll begin the transition to the bullpen probably next year."

UPDATE (9:26 PM EST): Dennis Nosco
Upside: He has a great arm, two VERY VERY good pitches and was a MUCH higher rated prospect than the #15 selection. We got a real bargain, talent-wise. He was thought to be an ace-in-waiting if he got his mechanics straight which many thought was an easy fix. So, great value for that arm at #15. Plus, the Indians have had some luck (Jensen Lewis) turning college starting pitchers into relievers.

Downside: They drafted him as a reliever and will have to deal with Scott Boras as an agent. This means an overslot bonus and very possibly a major league contract for a guy with very, very limited closing or even relieving experience (6 games in two years before this year).

Summary: Just seems like an odd selection, given they are going to turn him into a reliever and their lack of success in drafting guys high in the first round (see Trevor Crowe and second base) who they had change roles significantly. Can't argue with the arm or, as a reliever, the present stuff, but the intangibles (moving to full time relief, dealing with Boras) just make it odd for me.

UPDATE (9:01 PM EST): Jeff Ellis
White did have some bullpen experience, but very little, as late as last year, so the Indians could be really meaning to make him the closer of the future.

White was electric for the Tar Heels out of the bullpen in the 2008 College World Series, sitting at 96 mph with excellent life on his fastball, and some scouts see him in that role.

UPDATE (9:00 PM EST): UNC Player Page

UPDATE (8:43 PM EST): MLB.com Player Page

UPDATE (8:26 PM EST): Jeff Ellis, with information courtesy of ESPN and Keith Law
Alex White has struggled a bit this year and shown a drop in velocity that affected his stock causing him to drop from a possible top 5 selection to a player in the 8-12 range. One of his bigger problems is throwing too many off speed pitches instead of relaying on his dominant fastball. His slider is a bit long and tends to end up out of the zone and while college hitters’ swing at it, there is concern pro hitters won’t. This was a problem Andrew Miller has faced in the majors, who was also a UNC pitcher. His delivery is a bit funky, looks awkward. He has a high elbow in back, a long path for his arm, and more drift then drive towards the plate. He is an intelligent kid and very coach able though with a good feel for pitching. He has a great track record pitching under pressure.

Keith Law states about the Indians pick, "This pick fell right into there laps. He could have gone as high as 7 but the Sanchez pick and all the prep arms pushed him back. Great value pick, was projected as a top 5 earlier this year."

UPDATE (8:20 PM EST): Information courtesy of Anthony Castrovince
"The Indians plan to turn White into a bullpen guy. Scouting director Brad Grant said he views White as a back-end, power arm."

UPDATE (7:58 PM EST): Jeff Ellis
Alex White is a 6’3” righty who is the same age as our pick last year Lonnie Chisenhall. He was considered a top 5 selection before the season began but had a down year, thanks to some troubled mechanics. In his last start in the college World Series regional White showed why he is the second best right hander in college baseball. He struck out 12 in 8 and 2/3 innings against a good East Carolina team. As a pitcher he has 3 pitches right now a fastball (graded 55), slider (45), and a splitter (45). The fastball sits in the 90-93 range and has touched 95. The splitter has really improved and is now his second best pitch, and is his most effective pitch against lefties. His slider is in the 82-84 range and has hit 86. All pitches project to be plus pitches and his fastball projects out as a plus plus pitch. As good as these pitches are his best attributes by some are seen to be a bulldog like competitiveness that you see in the best pitchers. He also is an excellent athlete for a pitcher. The knock on him, has been the inconsistencies and some command worries. A team should be able to coach and fix White mechanics which trouble him this year, and many think that will also help his command. When it’s all said and done White is a potential ace who will battle Rondon for the right to the top pitching prospect in the Indians minor leagues.

Also, a nice write up by Baseball America: Here


UPDATE (7:54 PM EST): Official Indians Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 9, 2009

INDIANS SELECT RHP ALEX WHITE

IN THE FIRST ROUND OF 2009 FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT

University of North Carolina Product Selected 15^th Overall by the Indians

CLEVELAND, OH --- The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has selected RHP ALEX WHITE with the 15^th overall pick in the first round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

White, 20, is a 6-3, 200-pound right-handed pitcher who is currently in his Junior season for the College World Series bound University of North Carolina Tarheels. So far this year is 8-4 with a 4.13 ERA (98.0IP, 86H, 48R/45ER, 41BB, 109K) in 14 starts, while limiting opposing batters to a .234 average against. On Saturday, White earned his 8^th win of the season as he struck out a career-high 12 batters (8.1IP, 9H, 1R/ER, 3BB, 12K) as UNC defeated East Carolina, 10-1, to open their NCAA super regional series. He was recently named to the Atlantic Coast Conference first team for the second consecutive season. North Carolina will face Arizona St. on Sunday in the College World Series.

Last year White went 13-3 with a 2.83 ERA (101.2IP, 78H, 43R/32ER, 42BB, 113K, .215 avg against) in 20 games/15 starts as he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year and a third team All-America by Baseball America.

This marks the second time White has been selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year player draft as he was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 14^th round of the 2006 draft out of D.H. Conley High School (Greenville, NC) before opting to attend the University of North Carolina.


More information when available.

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