Marlins' top pitching prospect sidelined with oblique strain

Thomas White to miss 3-4 weeks of Spring Training with injury

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Marlins top pitching prospect Thomas White, ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 17 overall prospect, has sustained a Grade 1 right oblique strain and will be out for 3-4 weeks, preventing him from appearing in any more Spring Training games.

Why it matters

White's injury is a setback for the Marlins, who were hoping to get a long look at their top pitching prospect in big league camp. The 21-year-old left-hander was projected to begin the 2026 season at Triple-A, but this injury will delay his development and major league debut.

The details

White initially felt discomfort in his oblique during his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday, when he allowed a two-run double and struck out one batter in a 28-pitch outing. The next day, the symptoms worsened, leading to the diagnosis of a Grade 1 strain. White, who generally operates with a 94-97 mph fastball that touches 99 mph, was expected to help the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp defend their Triple-A National Championship this season.

  • White sustained the injury during his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday, March 28, 2026.
  • Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp's Opening Day is scheduled for March 27, 2026.

The players

Thomas White

Marlins' top pitching prospect, ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 17 overall prospect and the top left-handed pitching prospect in baseball.

Clayton McCullough

Marlins manager, who provided an update on White's injury.

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What they’re saying

“It's easy to forget just how young he is. His talent and performance has -- and rightly so -- got him to a position where he's very close to impacting our team here. It's his first Major League camp, and he's gotten so much exposure and so much hype around him. He's a great kid. He's handled everything very well, good head on his shoulders. [It's] unfortunate that he's just going to miss some development time here in the early part of the season.”

— Clayton McCullough, Marlins Manager (mlb.com)

What’s next

With Triple-A Jacksonville's Opening Day slated for March 27, White might be ready in time. Or he may need rehab starts before joining Jacksonville.

The takeaway

This injury is a setback for the Marlins' top pitching prospect, who was expected to make a major impact at the Triple-A level this season. However, the team remains optimistic that White will be able to return to action in the coming weeks and continue his development towards a potential major league debut later in the year.