Blue Jays sign hometown product

The Toronto Blue Jays continue to add to their stockpile of young talent by signing a local product to an undrafted free agent deal. Aurora, Ontario native Sam White and the Blue Jays came to an agreement on Friday morning, after White spent the last three seasons with West Virginia University.

In those three seasons, White put together a .310 average with 168 hits, 19 home runs and 111 RBI, while scoring 117 runs in 161 games for the Mountaineers. His stats jumped off the page this season as he led the team with a .361 batting average and he received some league recognition. White was named to the ABCA All-East Region First Team as well as All-Big 12 Hounourable Mention, the second consecutive season he has been named among that group. White's batting average was also second best among primary second baseman in the Big 12 and 46th among all power hitters nationally.

White was expected to be a late round draft pick, in fact among all of the players with the Mountaineers who were draft eligible, he was considered to be the biggest lock. But he never got to hear his name called, which shows every player that the draft is not the only way to make it to being a prospect within a big league organization. He is now the seventh player from West Virginia to either be drafted or signed by an MLB team this month. He is also the third player from West Virginia to join the Blue Jays after Alek Manoah and Braden Barry.

White played multiple positions during his time with the Mountaineers, logging time at first, second, third, and in the outfield, while also catching during his time in Morgantown. Scouts regarded him as a competent, if not, spectacular fielder, but will likely have the tools to settle in at second or third once he starts playing professionally.