Owen White Bio
William Timothy Owen White is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox, and has also been a member of the Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, and Charlotte Knights organizations. White made his MLB debut in 2023 and has experienced a steady progression through professional baseball, including notable achievements in high school and the minor leagues before reaching the majors and later moving to international baseball in South Korea.
Early Life and Background
William Timothy Owen White was born on August 9, 1999, in China Grove, North Carolina, in the United States. He grew up in a community with a strong tradition of high school baseball and developed his athletic abilities from a young age. White attended Jesse C. Carson High School, where he became a three-sport athlete, playing basketball through his senior year and serving as quarterback on the football team through his junior season in addition to pitching for the baseball program.
During his senior year at Jesse C. Carson High School, White delivered a remarkable season on the mound, posting a 10–1 record with a 0.22 ERA and 101 strikeouts over 63 and two-thirds innings. His dominant performance earned him the North Carolina Gatorade baseball Player of the Year award for the 2017–2018 season, signaling his status as one of the top amateur pitchers in the country. Following his high school career, White committed to play college baseball at the University of South Carolina, where he was expected to continue his development as a pitcher before turning professional.
Path to Professional Baseball
White’s path to professional baseball was solidified in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, when the Texas Rangers selected him in the second round with the 55th overall pick. He signed with the Rangers for a $1.5 million signing bonus, choosing to forgo his commitment to the University of South Carolina in order to begin his professional career. After signing, White did not appear in an official game with a Rangers affiliate during the 2018 season, as the organization placed him in a specialized de-load program designed to build a strong mental and physical foundation for their newly drafted high school pitchers while allowing their bodies to recover from a strenuous senior season and pre-draft showcase circuit.
The early years of White’s professional career were marked by significant adversity. In May 2019, he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament and underwent Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss the entire 2019 season. He was then unable to play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. White returned to the mound in 2021 with the Down East Wood Ducks of the Low-A East, and although he fractured his hand early in the year after striking the ground in frustration following a fielding error, he rebounded to post a combined 4–1 record with a 3.06 ERA and 56 strikeouts over 35 and one-third innings across two affiliates. He capped the year by being named the Arizona Fall League Pitcher of the Year after a dominant stint with the Surprise Saguaros, posting a 5–0 record with a 1.91 ERA and 29 strikeouts over 28 and one-third innings.
Owen White Career
Minor League Development (2019–2022)
White opened the 2022 season with the Hickory Crawdads of the High-A South Atlantic League, where he went 6–2 with a 3.99 ERA and 81 strikeouts over 58 and two-thirds innings before earning a promotion to the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League in June. With Frisco, he recorded a 3–0 record with a 2.49 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 21 and two-thirds innings, though a right forearm strain cost him more than two months. He returned in time to pitch in the Texas League playoffs, and on November 15, 2022, the Rangers selected him to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, cementing his status as one of the organization’s top prospects.
MLB Debut and Texas Rangers Era (2023–2024)
White began the 2023 season back at Double-A Frisco after dealing with neck inflammation in spring training. In 11 starts for the RoughRiders, he posted a 2–3 record and 3.54 ERA with 45 strikeouts across 53 and one-third innings. On June 13, 2023, he was promoted to the major leagues for the first time and made his MLB debut that night against the Los Angeles Angels, pitching two innings of relief and allowing three runs while taking the loss. He was optioned back to Frisco after the appearance, then moved up to the Triple-A Round Rock Express of the Pacific Coast League on June 20, and was selected to represent Texas in the 2023 All-Star Futures Game.
White opened the 2024 season at Triple-A Round Rock before being called up by the Rangers on April 19, 2024. His major league stint that year was brief and difficult, as he posted a 24.00 ERA with no strikeouts across three innings in three appearances. Following the Rangers’ signing of relief pitcher Hoby Milner on December 20, 2024, White was designated for assignment, ending his time in the Texas organization after six years in the system.
Chicago White Sox and 2025 Movement
On January 6, 2025, White was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for cash considerations, but was designated for assignment by the Reds on January 29. He was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees on February 5, only to be designated for assignment again on February 11 following the Yankees’ acquisition of Brent Headrick. On February 17, White was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox and optioned to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights before the 2025 season began. He pitched twice in relief for the White Sox in June, then returned to the majors for one game in August, allowing four runs while recording only one out in a win over the Atlanta Braves on August 18. On October 13, White was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Charlotte, and on November 6, he elected free agency.
Hanwha Eagles Era (2025–Present)
On December 16, 2025, White signed with the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League, embarking on the next chapter of his professional career in South Korea. The move to the Korean league represented a fresh start for the young right-hander, who had navigated multiple organizations in the span of a single offseason. His role with the Hanwha Eagles gave him the opportunity to take on a regular starting or relief workload in a competitive international league, allowing him to refine his craft and build momentum heading into a new season.
Driving Style and Strengths
White is recognized for his strong strikeout ability and poise on the mound, demonstrated throughout his minor league career by his high strikeout rates and his AFL Pitcher of the Year honors. His experience navigating injuries and multiple organizations has built resilience, while his three-sport athletic background contributes to his coordination and competitiveness. Working with various development staffs across the Texas, Cincinnati, New York, Chicago, and now Korean systems has helped him adapt his approach to different game situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of White’s career are his 2018 second-round selection by the Texas Rangers, his 2021 Arizona Fall League Pitcher of the Year award, his 2023 MLB debut, and his selection to the 2023 All-Star Futures Game. His signing with the Hanwha Eagles in December 2025 also marked a major milestone as his first contract outside of Major League Baseball organizations.
Owen White Career Wins
White’s professional win totals reflect his progression through multiple levels of organized baseball, from the Low-A East to Triple-A, the major leagues, and now the KBO League. His most decorated stretch came during the 2021 Arizona Fall League, where he went 5–0, and during the 2022 minor league season, when he combined for a 9–2 record between High-A Hickory and Double-A Frisco.
Minor League Highlights
White’s most consistent winning stretch came in 2021, when he went 4–1 with a 3.06 ERA across 35 and one-third innings between the Down East Wood Ducks and the ACL Rangers, followed by a perfect 5–0 mark in the Arizona Fall League. In 2022, he went 6–2 with Hickory before going 3–0 with Frisco, finishing the year as a key contributor in the Texas League playoffs.
Major League Performances
At the major league level, White earned his first MLB decision during his 2023 debut outing against the Los Angeles Angels, though he took the loss. He later contributed to a Chicago White Sox victory over the Atlanta Braves on August 18, 2025, although he was charged with four runs in only one-third of an inning in that appearance.
Owen White Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
White grew up in China Grove, North Carolina, where he developed his baseball skills at Jesse C. Carson High School. Public information about his immediate family is limited, and detailed background on his parents or any family connections to professional baseball has not been widely documented.
Personal Life
White remains focused on his professional baseball career, and details about his marital status, spouse, or children are not publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
White’s 2025 season was defined by movement between organizations rather than stability on the mound. After being designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers in December 2024, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, claimed by the New York Yankees, and then claimed by the Chicago White Sox before Opening Day, before being optioned to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights to begin the year. He reached the majors with the White Sox in June for two relief appearances, then returned for one game in August in which he was charged with four runs in a victory over the Atlanta Braves.
Following the 2025 season, White was removed from the White Sox 40-man roster on October 13 and sent outright to Triple-A Charlotte. He elected free agency on November 6, ending his time in the Chicago organization, and on December 16, 2025, signed with the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League, opening a new chapter in his professional career in South Korea. The move provided White with an opportunity to take on a consistent role in an international league after a turbulent year.
Looking ahead, White’s tenure with the Hanwha Eagles is expected to provide him with a more stable environment to refine his pitching craft and rebuild his stock. Given his history of strikeout-heavy minor league work and his resilience through adversity, the Hanwha Eagles era represents a chance for him to establish himself as a reliable arm in the KBO League while continuing his professional development on an international stage.