Athletics infielder Tommy White hit his first major league home run during a weekend series against the Texas Rangers, breaking an early professional power drought following his standout collegiate career at LSU, according to reports from team coverage and regional sports outlets. White connected on an eighth-inning fastball, driving it 413 feet to center field to help secure a 5-2 victory for the Athletics.
The Transition From LSU Power Hitter to Professional Contact Approach
Fans in Baton Rouge widely remember White under his collegiate moniker, “Tommy Tanks,” earned through prolific home run displays that helped power the Tigers to a National Championship. Following that success, the Athletics selected him with the first pick in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft, and the organization called him up from Triple-A Las Vegas on July 17, according to Athletics beat reporting.
However, White’s initial 25 games in the major leagues lacked the defining slugging metrics fans witnessed in college. Out of his first 24 hits at the professional level, 22 were singles and the remaining two were doubles. Beat writers covering the Athletics note that teammates jokingly began calling him “Tommy Singles” as his power output stalled.
Breaking the Slump Against Texas
The power drought ended during the Sunday matchup against the Rangers when White launched his first career home run. Upon returning to the dugout, teammates observed a traditional baseball silent treatment before celebrating at the end of the bench. White quickly validated the adjustment by hitting a second home run in his next game on Monday.
The Athletics have given White a regular starting role at first base and consistent at-bats, a deployment shaped partly by a hip injury that forced Tyler Soderstrom onto the injured list. Front office personnel and coaching staff are utilizing the final stretch of the regular season to evaluate White’s long-term fit in the major league lineup as he adjusts to professional pitching.
Keep reading