This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola’s Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
What's the perfect parting gift for a recent signee set to begin his professional baseball career? How about a new glove?
Left-hander Thomas White, whom the Marlins selected with their Competitive Balance Round A pick (No. 35 overall) earlier this month in the 2023 MLB Draft, stopped by loanDepot park on Sunday. But the 18-year-old was missing a very important piece of baseball equipment.
White's glove, which he had used his entire high school career at Phillips Academy in Massachusetts, was all torn apart. He had relaced it twice, but it was clearly the worse for wear. As White hung out with fellow Scott Boras clients Bryan Hoeing and Braxton Garrett, the teenager asked Garrett for one of his gloves.
"I was hoping when I got here I could get a new one," White said. "I didn't think it would come from a player, but it works. I can't catch someone throwing as hard as maybe Noble Meyer does without a glove."
After watching the Marlins walk off the Rockies to cap the weekend, White was scheduled to drive up to Jupiter, Fla., and start orientation with the other Draft picks. White and Meyer, whom Miami selected 10th overall, are going to be roommates. The top two prep pitchers often talked over the past week after only meeting in passing a few times before.
White couldn't wait to get back on the mound. The last time he pitched was on May 26 to end his high school career. Until now, he had treated the summer like a vacation, enjoying time with family and friends before embarking on this new journey.
"I think I'm a quieter person, lead by example, but I'm here," White said. "I know the Marlins have made an investment in me, and I'm not going to let anyone down, and we're going to get the hardest worker in the room."