Right-hander Owen White had a challenging holiday season. After the Texas Rangers signed reliever Hoby Milner, White was designated for assignment, leaving him in DFA limbo during a time when the usual seven-day window was extended because of the holidays. As a result, his baseball future was uncertain at the worst possible time.
However, on Monday, the former Top 100 prospect found a new opportunity. The Cincinnati Reds traded for him from Texas in exchange for cash considerations, giving pitching coach Derek Johnson and the Reds’ staff an intriguing arm to develop with minimal risk.
Owen White, a former second-round draft pick, has faced significant struggles in his brief big league appearances. In just 7.0 innings over five relief outings, he has allowed three home runs and 13 earned runs. His performance in the Pacific Coast League (AAA) last year was also underwhelming, posting a 5.64 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and 1.81 K/BB ratio across 99.0 innings.
Despite these struggles, White isn’t far removed from being considered a Top 100 prospect. He was ranked 59th by Baseball America and 66th by MLB Pipeline heading into 2023. In 2022, he struck out 104 batters in 80.1 innings while pitching at both A+ Hickory and AA Frisco, maintaining a solid 3.59 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.
The Reds’ acquisition of White is a low-risk, potentially high-reward move, especially since he still has an option remaining. This gives the team a chance to develop him in the minors, potentially unlocking the talent he showed earlier in his career. This trade comes at a crucial time for the Reds, who are dealing with the loss of depth following Tommy John surgeries for both Brandon Williamson and Julian Aguiar. Though White has pitched only as a reliever in the majors, he has been primarily a starter in the minors, with 61 of his 78 appearances since 2021 coming in that role.
