William Timothy Owen White Bio
William Timothy Owen White (born August 9, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League. White previously competed in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox. He made his MLB debut in 2023 and has demonstrated resilience through various challenges during his early professional career. White was selected in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers after an outstanding high school career in North Carolina.
Early Life and Background
White was born in China Grove, North Carolina, on August 9, 1999. He attended Jesse C. Carson High School in his hometown, where he excelled as a three-sport athlete. Beyond baseball, White played basketball through his senior year and served as the football team’s quarterback through his junior season, showcasing his versatility as an athlete.
During his senior baseball season at Jesse C. Carson High School, White posted remarkable statistics. He finished with a 10-1 record, a 0.22 earned run average, and 101 strikeouts across 63 and two-thirds innings pitched. His dominant performance earned him recognition as the North Carolina Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year for the 2017-2018 season. Following high school, White committed to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level by playing for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.
Path to Professional Baseball
White’s talent attracted significant attention from MLB scouts during his high school career. His exceptional pitching performance and three-sport athletic background positioned him as one of the top prospects in North Carolina. After his senior season achievements, he was selected in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers with the 55th overall pick. White signed with the Rangers shortly after being drafted, receiving a $1.5 million signing bonus to begin his professional journey.
Rather than appearing in official games during his first professional season, White participated in a specialized program the Rangers implemented for newly drafted high school pitchers. The organization called this the “de-load” program, which focused on building a strong mental and physical foundation while allowing these young arms to recover from the demands of their senior high school season and pre-draft showcase circuit. White and other participants engaged in strength training and classroom instruction until the post-season fall instructional training began.
William Timothy Owen White Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
White faced an early setback in May 2019 when he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his pitching arm, requiring Tommy John surgery. This injury forced him to miss the entire 2019 season, a significant hurdle for any young pitcher. The following year, White did not play due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, further delaying his professional development.
White finally began his professional playing career in 2021 with the Down East Wood Ducks of the Low-A East League. In his first official professional game, White suffered an unfortunate injury when he struck the ground with his right hand after a fielding error, resulting in a fractured hand. Despite this early adversity, he recovered and returned in August to complete the season. He finished the year combined with a 4-1 record, a 3.06 ERA, and 56 strikeouts across 35 and one-third innings, including a rehab appearance with the ACL Rangers of the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League.
Minor League Advancement (2021–2023)
Following the 2021 season, White continued his development by playing for the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League. His performance in the prestigious fall league was exceptional, earning him a spot on the Fall League All-Star team. White was ultimately named the Arizona Fall League Pitcher of the Year after posting a 5-0 record with a 1.91 ERA and 29 strikeouts over 28 and one-third innings, demonstrating his potential as a future major league contributor.
White opened the 2022 season with the Hickory Crawdads of the High-A South Atlantic League. He performed well, compiling a 6-2 record with a 3.99 ERA and 81 strikeouts across 58 and two-thirds innings before earning a promotion to the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League in June. With Frisco, White went 3-0 with a 2.49 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 21 and two-thirds innings. He missed over two months due to a right forearm strain but returned to pitch in the Texas League playoffs. His strong season earned him recognition as a top prospect, ranked 59th overall by Baseball America, 66th by MLB.com, and 70th by The Athletic’s Keith Law during the 2023 off-season. On November 15, 2022, the Rangers selected White to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
MLB Debut and Texas Rangers (2023–2024)
White began the 2023 season with Frisco after suffering neck inflammation during spring training. In 11 starts for the RoughRiders, he registered a 2-3 record and 3.54 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 53 and one-third innings pitched. On June 13, 2023, White was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut that evening against the Los Angeles Angels in relief, allowing three runs over two innings and taking the loss. Following his debut, White was optioned back to Frisco before being promoted to the Triple-A Round Rock Express on June 20. He was also selected to represent the Texas Rangers in the 2023 All-Star Futures Game.
White opened the 2024 season with Triple-A Round Rock before being called up to the majors on April 19, 2024. He appeared in three games for Texas, struggling with a 24.00 ERA and no strikeouts across three innings of work. Following the Rangers’ signing of Hoby Milner on December 20, White was designated for assignment.
Chicago White Sox (2025)
On January 6, 2025, White was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for cash considerations. The Reds designated him for assignment shortly afterward on January 29. White was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees on February 5 but was again designated for assignment following the Yankees’ acquisition of Brent Headrick on February 11. On February 17, the Chicago White Sox claimed White off waivers. He was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte before the 2025 season began.
White pitched twice in relief for Chicago in June 2025 and returned to the majors for one appearance in August, recording only one out while allowing four runs in a win over the Atlanta Braves on August 18. On October 13, White was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Charlotte. He elected free agency on November 6, 2025.
Hanwha Eagles Era (2025–Present)
On December 16, 2025, White signed with the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League, marking a new chapter in his professional career as he transitioned to play in South Korea. This move represented an opportunity for White to continue his baseball career with a fresh start in an international league following his MLB experiences.
Pitching Style and Strengths
White has demonstrated the ability to generate strikeouts throughout his minor league career, showcasing swing-and-miss stuff that translated from his high school dominance through his time in the Rangers system. His versatility as both a starter and reliever has allowed him to adapt to different roles as he progressed through the minor leagues toward his major league opportunities.
Notable Challenges and Resilience
White’s early professional career has been marked by significant injuries and setbacks, including Tommy John surgery in 2019, a hand fracture in his professional debut, and a forearm strain that cost him over two months in 2022. Despite these obstacles, White demonstrated resilience by returning to the mound and continuing to perform at high levels, eventually earning his way to the major leagues in 2023.
William Timothy Owen White Career Statistics
White has compiled professional statistics across multiple leagues throughout his minor league career before transitioning to international play with the KBO League.
MLB Career Highlights
Through the 2025 MLB season, White appeared in a combined six games between the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox. He finished his MLB career with a 0-1 win-loss record and a 12.86 earned run average, recording 10 strikeouts across his brief major league appearances. White made his major league debut with Texas in June 2023 and appeared in his final MLB game with Chicago in August 2025.
Minor League and KBO Performance
Throughout his minor league career, White showed promise with several strong seasons. His standout year came in 2021 with the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League, where he went 5-0 with a 1.91 ERA. In 2022 with Hickory and Frisco, he combined for a 9-2 record across both levels. Upon joining the KBO League with the Hanwha Eagles, White posted a 1-1 record with a 2.08 ERA and 6 strikeouts through May 16, 2026, indicating positive early results in international play.
| League | Wins | Losses | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (2023-2025) | 0 | 1 | 12.86 | 10 |
| KBO (2026-present) | 1 | 1 | 2.08 | 6 |
Family
Family Background and Education
White grew up in China Grove, North Carolina, where he attended Jesse C. Carson High School. His athletic family background likely contributed to his multi-sport capabilities during high school. White pursued higher education at the University of South Carolina, where he committed to play baseball for the Gamecocks program before beginning his professional career.
Personal Life
White continues to maintain an active public presence through his Instagram account, where he shares updates about his baseball career. He has been featured in various baseball prospect rankings throughout his development, reflecting the attention his talent has generated within the baseball community.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a transitional year for White as he navigated through multiple MLB organizations. After being traded to the Cincinnati Reds in January, he was claimed off waivers by both the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox within weeks. This period of roster movement demonstrated the challenges facing young players trying to establish themselves at the major league level. White spent significant time with Triple-A Charlotte while awaiting opportunities with Chicago.
White appeared in three total games with the White Sox during the 2025 season, including a notable appearance against the Atlanta Braves in August. Following the season, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A before electing free agency. His decision to sign with the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League in December 2025 marked a new direction in his career, providing an opportunity to develop as a player in a different baseball culture while continuing his professional journey.