One of LSU's most beloved baseball stars is headed to the major leagues.
The Athletics are calling up Tommy White for his Major League debut Friday night, hoping the former Tiger can provide a spark for an offense that desperately needs one.
The A'senter the second half of the season on a nine-game losing streak, having dropped 17 of their last 20 games. Before the All-Star break, they scored just six runs over their final six contests.
White has done his part at Triple-A Las Vegas, batting .303 with nine home runs and 47 RBIs this season.
A third baseman during his LSU career, White has split time between first and third base in the minors. Oakland has openings at both positions because of injuries. Third baseman Zack Gelof is sidelined with a right knee injury, while All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz is on the Injured List with a sprained thumb.
Known as "Tommy Tanks" for his tape-measure home runs, White blasted 74 homers during his three collegiate seasons between NC State and LSU. His power hasn't fully translated to professional baseball yet, as he's hit 24 home runs over three minor league seasons, but he's continued to produce offensively.
Fans may also notice a different look. The flowing blond hair and heavy eye black that became his trademark at LSU are gone, and White has slimmed down considerably. He weighed 242 pounds as a freshman at NC State, about 230 pounds during his LSU career, and is now listed at 220 pounds.
White becomes the fourth player from LSU's 2023 national championship team to reach the major leagues.
Paul Skenes was the first, debuting in 2024 and quickly establishing himself as one of baseball's elite pitchers. Already a three-time All-Star, Skenes entersthe second half of this season with an 8-8 record and a 3.57 ERA after winning each of his final two starts before the All-Star break.
Right-hander Grant Taylor has also reached the majors despite an injury-filled path. Taylor missed LSU's entire 2023 championship season after suffering an elbow injury just before Opening Day, but the Chicago White Sox still selected him in the second round of the MLB Draft. He's become a dependable bullpen arm, posting a 4-2 record with a 2.79 ERA and four saves.
It's hard not to wonder how dominant LSU's 2023 team might have been had Taylor been healthy.
The fourth member of that championship squad already in the majors is Dylan Crews. The Golden Spikes Award winner and No. 2 overall pick has continued to search for consistency with Washington. After beginning the season in Triple-A, Crews was recalled on May 19 and is hitting .211 with six home runs and 18 RBIs in 175 at-bats.
White's debut comes against the Nationals, meaning Crews is expected to be on the field for his former teammate's first Major League game.
Several other members of LSU's championship team are still working toward the majors.
New Orleans native Tre' Morgan has battled injuries since turning pro. Quadriceps injuries limited him during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, and he's appeared in only 14 Triple-A games this year after beginning the season on the injured list with an undisclosed injury. He's currently sidelined again with an ankle injury.
Pitcher Ty Floyd, a first-round pick by Cincinnati after starring as LSU's No. 2 starter, has also struggled to stay healthy. Floyd, who delivered a memorable 17-strikeout performance against Florida in Game 1 of the 2023 College World Series finals, missed all of 2024 with a shoulder injury. He has thrown just 51 2/3 innings over two professional seasons because of additional elbow issues.
Former LSU pitcher Blake Money is rehabbing after Tommy John surgery and has not pitched this season.
Meanwhile, left-handed reliever Riley Cooper has advanced to Triple-A in the Baltimore Orioles organization and could become the next member of LSU's 2023 championship team to reach the major leagues.
Others from that title-winning roster, including Gavin Dugas and Brayden Jobert, are no longer playing affiliated professional baseball.
