The SSG Landers announced that right-hander Mitch White has agreed to a one-year, $1MM contract with the Korea Baseball Organization team. White elected to become a minor league free agent at season’s end, after he was previously outrighted off the Brewers’ 40-man roster back in June.
A second-round pick for the Dodgers in the 2016 draft, White drew some top-100 attention during his time in the Los Angeles farm system, and he cracked the big leagues during the shortened 2020 campaign. White posted a 3.58 ERA, 22.02% strikeout rate, and 8.31% walk rate over 105 2/3 innings with the Dodgers from 2020-22, working as either starter or reliever based on the team’s needs.
L.A. often shuttled White back and forth between Triple-A and the majors as part of this swingman role, and ultimately found him expendable enough to be dealt to the Blue Jays at the 2022 trade deadline. The deal seemingly derailed White’s career, as the right-hander has badly struggled against MLB hitters since leaving the Dodgers organization. He posted a 7.74 ERA in 43 innings for the Jays for the rest of the 2022 season, and a 7.18 ERA in 36 1/3 innings since Opening Day 2023.
White’s 2024 workload of 23 2/3 innings was split between Toronto, San Francisco, and Milwaukee. The Giants picked White up from the Jays after Toronto designated him for assignment in April, and the Brewers acquired him a few weeks later after the Giants also sent him to DFA limbo. White’s only time in the minor leagues was spent with the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate, and his numbers (4.06 ERA, 27.2% strikeout rate, and 8.8% walk rate) were at least a marked improvement over his time in the Show.
Since White’s chances of landing a guaranteed contract from a Major League team this winter weren’t great, the move to South Korea allows White (who turns 30 in December) the opportunity to lock in a seven-figure salary. A strong showing with the Landers could put White back onto the radar for MLB teams next offseason, if he has interest in making a fairly quick return to North American baseball. Playing in the KBO League also some additional personal appeal to White, whose mother is Korean.
Looks like SSG is moving on from one of Roenis Elias or Andrew Anderson for next year. Might be Elias considering he’s going to turn 37 next year.
Both (Elias & Anderson) post a not a really good number IMHO. Elias 4.08 ERA in 123.2 innings, while Anderson 3.89 ERA in 115.2 innings. Probably SSG will not retain both of them
Maybe, the league average ERA of the KBO last year was 4.94 so it’s possible one of them might stick around for next year. Especially when Anderson was getting so many strikeouts
Mitch’s career and cultural path is similar to that of Kris Johnson. Johnson, whose grandfather was Japanese, never quite caught on in the MLB and had a few good years with the Hiroshima Carp, including one in which he was the first foreign born pitcher in over 50 years to win the Sawamura Award (NPB’s Cy Young equivalent). White’s mother is Korean. I hope he can have a good experience in the land of his ancestry and possibly make it back to MLB.
Thanks for very interesting story about Kris Johnson
So, it’s possible white won’t count against the foreign player cap? I had a friend play in the Korean basketball league and he didn’t count against the cap because his mother was Korean. I wonder if KBO has similar rules.
I wish Mitch have a good career in SK
Kinda sad saw his career take a huge downfall after LA trade him to Toronto
white is not much different than many other “top prospects” the dodgers had that they trade away- Seems they have a good understanding of their system and realize when they are not so “top” anymore.
Does Mitch White have Asian bloodline?
Yes
Yep, his mom was Korean. Immigrated to the States in 1969. White is the nephew of ABC correspondent Juju Chang
Really? His Aunt is pretty hot.
Not bad for a 60yr old
Some of the worst pitching I ever saw when he was with the Giants.
I cant believe Atkins wasnt fired immediately after this trade was completed.
Classic Ross Atkins
I was in Korea last summer and went a Landers game. Amazing atmosphere. It’s an outdoor stadium and they shoot water on the home crowd. A week later, I was in a different part of Seoul and went to a different game. The Landers were the away team.