MLB's No. 23 prospect fans 14 batters, dominates with a historic K stretch

Thomas White authored a stretch of dominance Saturday night that no big league pitcher has matched since at least 1961.

As part of a career-high 14-strikeout performance across five scoreless innings without issuing a walk in Double-A Pensacola 4-2 defeat to Knoxville at Covenant Health Park, the 20-year-old southpaw enjoyed a stretch of eight consecutive punchouts. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, a strikeout span of 13 across 14 batters -- in White's case, eight in a row, a single, followed by five more K's -- has never been recorded during the Expansion Era.

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After allowing a leadoff single, the Marlins’ top-ranked prospect struck out the second batter of the game, then got Knoxville's BJ Murray Jr. to fly out before fanning Pablo Aliendo (CHC No. 28) to end the first inning.

White didn’t stop there.

The 6-foot-5 lefty struck out the next seven batters he faced -- tying a Southern League record for eight consecutive strikeouts, a mark set in 2022 by fellow Marlins phenom Eury Pérez during his time with Pensacola.

That stretch was interrupted only by a two-out single from Murray Jr. in the fourth, but just like in the first, White bounced right back by retiring Aliendo on strikes -- the start of five consecutive punchouts to close his outing.

“I didn’t even realize I was striking out that many in a row,” White said. “Just was out there kind of rolling and just trying to really focus on attacking the hitter and working ahead.”

Of White’s 14 strikeouts, 13 came swinging. The lefty worked with a five-pitch mix, showing both strong sequencing and tunneling -- particularly between his 60-grade fastball and changeup -- to get hitters chasing out of the zone.

“It was just how well I was able to mix it up. You know, throw 3-2 changeups or 0-1 cutters,” he said. “Not giving them a chance to find any patterns … and then reading swings. If I read that a guy’s really nowhere close to a fastball, I’m just going to keep going fast. If they’re just not on it, they’re going to keep getting it until they prove that they’re on it.”

White credited his rhythm and confidence on the mound to catcher Spencer Bramwell, with whom he’s developed a strong rapport.

“I’m super pumped I get to throw to him every week,” White said. “Him and I are pretty much on the same wavelength at this point. … He’s just going to give me everything he’s got, and that’s all I can ask for from him.”

White began the 2025 campaign at High-A Beloit, where he posted a 2.83 ERA over nine starts, earning him a bump to Double-A. Since his promotion to Pensacola, the Marlins’ 2023 Comp. Round A pick has only elevated his game. With five scoreless innings on Saturday, White lowered his ERA to 2.25 through five starts with the Blue Wahoos.

Across both levels, MLB's No. 2 left-handed pitching prospect has struck out 86 batters in 55 innings -- a Minor League-best 14.1 K/9 among left-handed pitchers with at least 50 innings.

That jump in dominance is no coincidence. MLB's No. 23 prospect spent the offseason refining his arsenal and simplifying his delivery to improve command and consistency.

“Just trying to buy in as best as I can and throw everything with an intent -- trying to throw everything like I really mean it,” White said. “Honestly, I think all of my pitches are new grips, so it’s also about trusting what we’re doing here and the work I put in during the winter.”

On a night where White’s performance took center stage, fellow Marlins lefty, and the organization's No. 2 prospect, Robby Snelling, was dealing, too. The 21-year-old struck out a career-best 11 for Triple-A Jacksonville. White said the two share similarities and have grown close since joining the system together.

“I’ve already learned so much from him,” White said. “About the mental side, on the physical side, how he approaches his day to day. … I could point out a million things that he’s already taught me.”

White’s 14 strikeouts marked the second-highest single-game total in Pensacola Blue Wahoos franchise history -- trailing only Tony Cingrani’s 15-K performance on June 27, 2012.

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Pérez. Sandy Alcantara. Edward Cabrera. Things continue to look up for the Marlins' young pitching core and White’s rise is another promising signal that the future of their rotation is in good hands.