Alex White’s elbow continues to be a concern and the right-hander could end up needing Tommy John Surgery. (Image Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports)
When the Houston Astros picked up right-hander Alex White during the offseason from the Colorado Rockies, the belief was that the 24 year old could compete for a spot in the team’s starting rotation during Spring Training. Things didn’t quite go as planned this Spring and now, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle, there’s a chance that White could undergo Tommy John Surgery.
White made 7 appearances, including 6 starts, this Spring for Houston, throwing 20.2 IP. The results were atrocious: a 2.129 WHIP, 15.7 H/9, 1.3 HR/9, and a 7.84 ERA. He started to feel some discomfort in his elbow late in the Spring and the team shut him down for further evaluation. On March 31st he was placed on the 60-Day DL with what the team described as a strained elbow. It’s unclear how close the team is to deciding what White’s immediate fate will be.
A former 1st Round pick by the Cleveland Indians in 2009, White has been traded twice in his short career already. He was part of the package that the Rockies received in sending Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland. Houston received him from Colorado in return for Wilton Lopez this past December. He’s a combined 5-13 over the past two seasons, with a 6.03 ERA and 1.688 WHIP over 149.1 IP.