On Tuesday, the Washington Nationals promoted longtime Wilmington Blue Rocks first baseman T.J. White to Double-A Harrisburg. Former Oregon Duck Jacob Walsh was called up from Fredericksburg in a corresponding move. White spent parts of four seasons at Frawley Stadium, with 2026 proving to be his best season to date.
It had been a struggle for the switch-hitter before 2026 in Wilmington. Entering this season, White owned a career .203 batting average with the Blue Rocks and had struck out more than 100 times in each of his previous three seasons.
White's OPS never reached .700 despite leading the team in home runs in both 2024 and 2025. The power had always been there, but this season everything finally came together.
Since Opening Day, the 22-year-old has far surpassed his previous numbers in Wilmington. His batting average has jumped 54 points from .203 to .257, while his on-base percentage has increased 112 points from .293 to .405. White's OPS has seen an even bigger jump. After posting a .620 OPS across his first three seasons with the Blue Rocks, he raised it to .839 in 2026, a 219-point improvement.
White's breakout season revitalized his standing within the organization. His persistence and development transformed him into one of the most productive hitters not only on the Blue Rocks, but in the South Atlantic League as a whole.
White has been in the Nationals organization for a long time. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of high school, White was just 17 years old when Washington selected him, making him one of the youngest players in that draft class.
White's turnaround wasn't an accident. He credited a simplified approach at the plate for the success he has enjoyed this season. Rather than chasing pitches outside the strike zone, White focused on hunting fastballs and driving the ball through the middle of the field.
Trusting the process is never easy, especially when results do not come immediately. White, however, remained committed to the approach that got him this far. As the season progressed, he became a more consistent presence in the lineup and put together the most complete offensive campaign of his professional career.
Most prospects do not spend four seasons at one level, let alone receive four years to prove themselves in the minor leagues. The Nationals remained patient with White, believing his potential would eventually translate into consistent production. After four seasons in Wilmington, White rewarded that patience and earned his promotion to Double-A Harrisburg.