SSG Landers Sign Former MLB Pitcher Mitch White: What His Arrival Means for the Team and KBO League

Mitch White was highly anticipated as a prospect during his time with the LA Dodgers. Getty Images

SSG Landers hires Korean right-hander Mitch White (30) as a new foreign pitcher.

As a result of this paper’s coverage, SSG selected White as the new foreign resource for the 2025 season and began the countdown to the contract announcement. SSG, who finished the season in 6th place, were quick to look for a market for foreign players. Finding a replacement for Roenis Elias (36) was a ‘two-way strategy’ as he tried to renew the contracts of batting champion Guillermo Heredia (33) and firefighter Drew Anderson (30).

White pitched as a bullpen pitcher in 13 games in the American Major League (MLB) this year, recording 1 win, 1 loss, and an average ERA of 7.23 (23 2/3 innings). His five-year MLB record is 4 wins, 12 losses, and an average ERA of 5.25 (185 innings). He played for the LA Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, and Milwaukee Brewers. He was a former Dodgers prospect and was ranked 69th overall in the preseason prospect rankings by Baseball America (BA) in 2018. His eight-year minor league record is 26 wins, 21 losses, and an ERA of 3.93 (471 and two-thirds innings).

Mitch White appeared in Toronto last year. Getty Images

According to MLB statistics site Baseball Savant, White mixes a fastball with an average speed of 94 mph (151.3 km/h) with a sweeper, curve, and slider. Interestingly, he throws a sweeper, a type of modified slider that has recently been considered a ‘popular pitch’ in the KBO League. White is Korean-American and his mother is a second-generation immigrant to the United States. The possibility of participating in the Korean national team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was discussed, but no final decision was made.

With White’s appointment, Elias’ departure was confirmed. Elias, who was hired to SSG to replace Eni Romero last May, renewed his contract with a performance that exceeded expectations (8 wins, 6 losses, and an average ERA of 3.70). In particular, his impact in the second half was strong, including starting the first game of the semi-playoffs (quasi-PO) against the NC Dinos and pitching well, allowing 2 runs in 8 innings. This season’s record is 7 wins, 7 losses, and an average ERA of 4.08. In the 5th place game against the KT Wiz on October 1st, held for the first time in league history, he pitched well, allowing 2 hits (1 home run), 3 strikeouts, and 1 run in 6 innings. However, due to his injury history (damage to the internal oblique muscle) and his advanced age in his mid-30s, he had to packing.

2024 5th place professional football match (tiebreaker) between SSG and KT held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon 1st afternoon. SSG starter Elias is happy after KT Moon caught Sang-cheol with a ground ball to shortstop in the 6th inning. Suwon = Reporter Jeong Si-jong capa@edaily.co.kr /2024.10.01.

Reporter Bae Jung-hyeon bjh1025@edaily.co.kr