2020 Dodgers in review: Mitch White

Mitch White has the lowest ERA in Dodgers history.

Yes, he’s only pitched three innings, but he’s one of only 18 who have thrown a pitch for the team and not allow a run. That’s a select group, considering that 813 Dodgers have thrown a pitch in the 137-year history of the franchise.

White is tied atop the franchise leaderboard with such luminaries as Manuel Berrios, Tanyon Sturtze, Matt West, Skip Schumaker, and of course Russell Martin.

It’s temporary of course, as White still has a career ahead of him. But for now it’s a nice little quirk after a season that was anything but ordinary. White, the Dodgers’ second-round pick in 2016 out of Santa Clara, made his major league debut on August 28 when the Dodgers were in Arlington, running reconnaissance on what would later be their playoff home for 16 games in October, including winning the club’s first championship in 32 years.

Because there were no fans in the stands until the NLCS, White and others who debuted in 2020 didn’t get to have the normal experience of having family and friends in attendance for their big moment. And by the time White made his debut, he was already up with the team a few times, once on the roster for a day and other days on the taxi squad during road trips.

White was called up to the Dodgers three different times during the season, and was active for nine of the 60 games. The rest of the time, when he wasn’t traveling with the team on the taxi squad, was spent at the alternate training site at USC, where there were no games, but rather simulated situations to keep fresh.

“It’s difficult to walk that balance over there between wanting to keep developing your game long-term,” White said before making his debut, “but also knowing that, at any point you might be, like, now called up to maybe be needed in a big league game and trying to stay game ready.”

White, who was added to the 40-man roster a year ago this week, got that chance on August 28, pitching a scoreless inning against the Rangers, then pitched two perfect innings on September 18 against the Rockies. In those two games, he retired nine of his 11 batters faced. That puts him in the 0.00 ERA club, for now.

2020 particulars

Age: 25

Stats: 0.00 ERA, 2.86 FIP, 3 IP, 2 strikeouts

Salary: $563,500

Game of the year

White made his major league debut on August 28 against Texas. After Derek Dietrich popped up to shortstop for White’s first major league out, Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled and stole second. White got Scott Heineman to fly out, then after a walk to Leody Taveras, White got Shin-Soo Choo swinging for his first major league strikeout.

Roster status

White has 25 days of major league service time, and maintains his rookie status into 2021. He has two option years remaining.