Top Rangers Pitching Prospect Owen White Strong in Season Debut

Frisco RoughRiders pitcher Owen White put together a successful first start as the Texas Rangers’ Double-A affiliate continued its opening-weekend series with Amarillo on Friday.

White is the Rangers’ No. 3 overall prospect per Per MLB.com.

White pitched just three innings, throwing 48 pitches, including 31 strikes. He gave up just one hit, one walk and struck out one.

White gave up his only hit to start the game, as Amarillo’s Ryan Bliss singled to right field. After that, White induced a groundout and recorded his only strikeout before an inning-ending groundout.

White retired the side in order in the second inning. In the third, he gave up his only walk to lead off the inning and recorded three straight outs to end the inning and his night.

White did not struggle last season at either High Class-A Hickory or Frisco. Overall he went 9-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 15 appearances (14 starts). He struck out 104, walked 23 and allowed hitters to bat .233 against him.

When he was promoted to Frisco last July he was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Week after his first start, but sat for a good portion of the rest of the season with an injury. He returned and finished the regular season 3-0 with a 2.49 ERA in four starts. He threw two perfect innings of relief and struck out all six hitters in the Riders’ Texas League-clinching victory.

The Rangers drafted White out of high school in 2018 and paid $1.5 million to sign the second-round pick.

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