Humble White Having Historic UK Career

Evan White is not one for self-promotion.

Kentucky’s junior first baseman does not like talking about himself or his individual accomplishments, and generally won’t without mentioning the successes of his team and his teammates.

The fact that White won’t sing his own praises may be one of the reasons that he is an underrated superstar in the world of college baseball. But make no mistake, the Gahanna, Ohio, native is clearly one of the best players in the country.

“He’s a five-tool player,” said Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione. “When you start going through his tools, and you start thinking of the five tools, the run, hit, field, throw and power, he can do it all.”

A perfect example of White being overlooked happened on Thursday, when the semifinalists for the 2017 Dick Howser Trophy were announced. The list of 25 players who will be considered for the award, given to the best college baseball player in the country, included Kentucky second baseman Riley Mahan, who absolutely deserves to be considered. That same list did not include White, despite a batting average of .385, eight home runs and 22 doubles, production that came even though White missed 13 games early in the season due to injury.

In his nearly three years at Kentucky, White has racked up 221 career hits, which is ninth in UK history. His .358 career batting average is fifth in school history and his leadership has propelled the 2017 Wildcats into the top 10 of the national rankings, and in position to host an NCAA Regional next week.

After seeing his team come up short of the postseason in his first two years at Kentucky, White is enjoying the huge success of this year’s Wildcats.

“It’s incredible, it shows the growth that we’ve had as a program and the growth of the players,” White said. “We’ve had pretty much the same guys all three years. To see us grow from my freshman year has been truly remarkable and has special to be a part of.”

White has been a huge part of that growth, both with the bat and in the field, whether he’ll say it himself or not.

White’s offensive numbers are obviously very impressive. But what makes him a potential first-round pick in June’s Major League Baseball Draft, as well as one of the best players in UK history, is his defense. White has saved his fellow infielders dozens of errors during his three years at first base.

When Mingione was asked how good White is, he didn’t hesitate.

“I’ve started telling all of the professional scouts and assistant GMs, I’ve told them all that he’s the best first baseman on the planet,” Mingione said. “Every guy I’ve ever talked to has said, ‘That’s the best first baseman I’ve ever seen.’ For me, at his age and his athleticism, he’s the best first baseman on the planet.

“When you start going through the tools, the fielding part, he’s the best on the planet.. “His arm, he teased me a couple of weeks ago and said he was the only first baseman who hasn’t thrown a bullpen. I bet if I put him on the mound right now, he’d throw a ball 90 miles per hour from the left side.”

Kentucky radio play-by-play man Neil Price has been calling UK games for 12 years. There’s no question in Price’s mind where White ranks.

“Evan White is the best defensive first baseman who has ever played here, at least in my 12 years,” Price said. “The reason I say that is, his hand-eye coordination. If you look at some of the picks that he is able to make from other parts of the diamond, I have not seen a guy who’s that reliable. Every time you get it within range of him, he’s going to make the play. That’s a great feeling, if you’re someone else on the team, knowing that if there’s a slip, he’s going to pick you up.”

Doug Flynn, who is the color commentator on Kentucky baseball broadcasts on SEC Network+, has seen a lot of baseball, and he appreciates good defense. Flynn played for five teams in his 11-year MLB career, and earned a Gold Glove for his defense with the 1980 New York Mets. And Flynn does not mince words when talking about White.

“He’s the best first baseman I’ve ever seen, at any level,” Flynn said. “There’s some great ones out there. (Former Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman) Wes Parker was really good, (former St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets first baseman) Keith Hernandez was outstanding. But (White) doesn’t only pick the routine play, he picks the tough play and he does it effortlessly. His hand-eye coordination is unbelievable, his skillset, his tags at first base, the way he approaches ground balls, his throws to all the bags. In my opinion, he’s the best first baseman, defensively, that I’ve ever seen.”

White has combined his physical talents with hard work to become the best fielding first baseman in the country.

“It really comes down to, I was blessed with some ability, but it all goes back to putting the work in and putting the extra hours in, which is something my dad, my grandma, my mom and my grandpa all helped me put the work in,” White said. “Whenever I wanted to go to the field, they were always there to support me, drive me, help me get better and give me tips to get better. It’s all about reps and going out there and doing it.”

And while he has grown into an incredible first baseman, he had dreams of playing another position when he was growing up.

“I played first base a lot growing up, played center field a lot growing up and played some shortstop when I was eight years old,” White said before jokingly saying, “I was convinced for a while that I was going to be the first left-handed shortstop in the big leagues, but I don’t really see that happening now. You never know, though!”

Flynn thinks he has the answer as to why White is underrated.

“Because he hits right-handed,” Flynn said. “If he’s a left-handed hitting first baseman, he’s the number one (MLB) draft choice overall. But, because he hits right-handed and he doesn’t have the power numbers (he won’t go that high). But the guy was hurt and he’s still racking up two or three hits per game. You add his numbers with another 40-plus at-bats this season, how many more hits and RBIs is that? His numbers are right there with anybody in the country.”

And despite the accolades and records he has earned, White has remained humble. He appreciates what the University of Kentucky has done for him.

“(UK) had an incredible impact on me,” White said. “Becoming more of a man, becoming a better player. It’s something on and off the field. I can’t thank this university enough for what it’s done for me.”

He first realized that he belonged on this level late in his freshman season at UK.

“Early on, it’s a challenge, it’s a grind and you soon realize that,” White said. “The older guys tell you that when you come in, but you don’t realize it until you have to go through it yourself. As the season progressed, as my teammates showed more and more confidence in me, it helped me feel confidence in myself.”

White’s teammates can’t say enough good things about White and his leadership on this team.

“He comes to work every day, and you wouldn’t know if he’s having a bad day or not,” said UK center fielder Marcus Carson. “He actually lives with me, he’s a good roommate, good player and a good guy all around. You can’t beat him, he’s one of a kind.”

Senior Zach Reks is motivated by White and how hard he works at his craft.

“Just his work ethic, how great of a guy he is on and off the field,” Reks said. “Outstanding guy to be around. Great motivator.”

White has become more vocal in his leadership in 2017.

“When the new coaching staff got here, they challenged me to be more of a vocal leader,” White said. “My first two years, I was a younger guy and tried to lead by example, which they told me should be the standard. That was definitely a new way of looking at things for me and I think it’s helped me a lot being a more vocal leader this year. I feel like we’ve had a lot of guys step up this year and it’s been cool to be part of. I’m not sure if I have anything to do with that. I would like to think so, but it’s not about that stuff. Being able to speak up when need be and do what you’re supposed to do all the time.”

Mingione is proud of the White for making the team better.

“The biggest thing I’m most proud of is the teammate he’s been,” Mingione said. “He’s bunted multiple times on his own to try to help our team win. This is a guy who is one of the elite players in the whole country, and he’s done everything he can to help our team win. I think that shows what kind of person he is.”

White has definitely earned being mentioned in the same sentence with all-time UK greats like A.J. Reed and Ryan Strieby. Reed was the 2012 Consensus National Player of the Year, while Strieby was the 2006 SEC Player of the Year and a First-team All-American.

Price sees a slight difference between White and Strieby, who led the 2006 Cats to the school’s only SEC regular season championship.

“Where he and Ryan differ, Ryan had more power in his bat,” Price said. “He was a good defender, a very good defender, but the combination of Evan hitting for average, being an elite-level defender at first base, his ability to run the bases, he’s got more speed than people believe. I think all of those things set him a little above when you talk about where he ranks (in UK history).”

White isn’t sure where he should be ranked in UK history or what the record books should say about him.

“Hopefully something good,” White said when asked what he would be remembered for during his time at UK. “A guy that did everything he could to help the team win, whether it’s on offense or defense. That’s what I hope people look back and see me as. The big thing is the team. This year, I hope we can do something that hasn’t been done here before. That’s the goal we set from the get-go and that’s the plan.”

White’s name will appear prominently in the UK season and career record books. White has 221 career hits heading into the SEC Tournament, and needs just 11 more to tie Jeff Abbott for fifth place on Kentucky’s career hits list. He has already passed Austin Cousino for most hits by a UK player in a three-year career. White is also about to catch Cousino on the UK list for career doubles. White currently has 49, and needs just have more to take second place on that list.

Never one to focus on himself, White did not realize that he had cracked UK’s Top 10 in career hits until he was informed.

“It’s pretty cool actually,” White said. “(UK baseball sports information director) Matt (May) texted me the other day when I cracked the top 10. I had no idea, I don’t focus on that stuff. It’s cool to see that. Kentucky’s a great university, great baseball program and there have been a ton of great players come through here, so it’s pretty special to be in the top 10. But, it’s not about me, it’s about the team. For those hits to have contributed to some wins, that’s what it’s all about.”

White’s future almost certainly includes a professional baseball career. A number of MLB Draft projections have White being taken in the first round, which would mean White would give up his final year of eligibility at UK to pursue his dream of playing in the pros.

But White is not ready to discuss that possibility just yet.

“It’s exciting stuff, but it’s not what I’m focused on right now,” White said. “I’m focused on helping the team win and that stuff is going to take care of itself. If I can do what I can do to help the team win, I feel like that’s going to handle itself on its own. Not focusing on that, just focusing on getting better each and every day in order to help this team win and accomplish things we’ve never accomplished before. But it’s cool to see that stuff, but I really don’t go out and see it. If someone tags me (on social media) or something, I see it, but it’s not something I focus on.”

If Flynn were to make a recommendation about White, he has no doubt what he would tell an MLB General Manager.

“What do you want to do with your ball club? Do you want to make them better? Then you get this kid, period,” Flynn said. “He’s going to hit you 15-20 home runs, 50 doubles. But he makes your whole infield better because guys don’t have to worry about where they are throwing. If you get it near him, he’s catching it. He’s a good offensive player, he’s a great defensive player, and he makes your defense that much better. You can hit him in the two hole, the seven hole or wherever. I just think he’s one of the best total ballplayers I’ve seen in a long time.”

Mingione knows that the pro scouts are taking notice of White.

“I had one pro guy tell me that (White) has the highest average exit velocity (of a batted ball) out of all college players that they have data on,” Mingione said. “I just love the fact that he’s hitting for more power now. And I think his power numbers would have been even higher if he had been healthy all year. Dealing with the groin, the quad and the hammy, maybe you’re not seeing all that’s in there. To hit for power, you’ve got to have your legs under you.”

As for White, he has a few current MLB stars that he looks up to and tries to model his game after.

“Definitely Joey Votto is a guy I look up to and respect the heck out of his game,” White said of the Cincinnati Reds first baseman, who, like White, wears uniform number 19. “Guys like (Chicago Cubs first baseman) Anthony Rizzo, (Kansas City Royals first baseman) Eric Hosmer, guys like that who play first and are really good defensively and really good offensively. The all-around guys because I don’t like to focus on just one side of the game because, in baseball, there’s so many different factors and so many parts of the game. I’m a big guy on wanting to be a complete ballplayer and be able to help the team out on the base paths, on defense and at the plate. And I feel like those guys do a great job with that and they are guys I really look up to in the bigs.”

For now, White is more concerned about the immediate future, which he, and the rest of the Wildcats, hope will last for a while longer.

“Win it,” White said of what he hopes the next few weeks hold for him and the team. “That’s what it comes down to, that’s our goal, to accomplish things that we haven’t accomplished at the University of Kentucky. Hopefully it happens. We’re going to go out there and be fearless and attack each and every game, each pitch and we’re going to stick to it.”

If White can add an SEC Tournament and/or NCAA Regional title to his already sparkling resume, those with a broad knowledge of the program will consider him one of the greats to ever play here.

Just don’t expect White to say it.