Prospect Q&A: RHP Thomas Wilhite
October 3, 2017
Trey Sofio
Louisiana Scouting Director
Thomas Wilhite
Class of 2019 / RHP
Player Information
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Graduating Class: 2019
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Primary Position: RHP
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High School: West OuachitaState: LA
- Summer Team: LA Knights
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Height: 6-3Weight: 217lbs
- Bat/Throw: R/R
Statistics
Videos
(8/2/17)
Player News
- FL JUCO Opening Weekend Scout Notes - Jan 25, 2021
- Most Viewed Profiles of 2019: No. 6 Thomas Wilhite - Dec 20, 2019
- Louisiana Draft Preview - May 29, 2019
- Updated Class Of 2019 Rankings - Mar 11, 2019
- Most Viewed Profiles of February - Mar 1, 2019
- Weekend Recap: 2/22/19 - 2/23/19 - Feb 25, 2019
- High School Crosscheck: Week 2 - Feb 25, 2019
- Game Recaps: Friday DH Action - Feb 23, 2019
- Super 60: Trackman Leaderboard - Feb 13, 2019
- The Rode Show: 2019 Super 60 - Feb 5, 2019
- Most Viewed Profiles of January - Feb 1, 2019
- Super 60 Prospect Rewind - Jan 31, 2019
- Super 60 Spotlight: Thomas Wilhite - Jan 3, 2019
- Most Viewed Profiles Of December - Jan 1, 2019
- Most Viewed Profiles Of October - Nov 1, 2018
- Updated Class Of 2019 Rankings - Oct 17, 2018
- Wilhite Goes From Chubby Kid to LSU Commit - Oct 8, 2018
- Updated Class Of 2019 Rankings - Jul 2, 2018
- 2018 PBR All-State: Second Team Selections - May 15, 2018
- Thursday 2/22 - Feb 23, 2018
- Game Recaps: Thursday 2/22 - Feb 23, 2018
- Power 25 Rankings Release: No.'s 11 - 15 - Feb 19, 2018
- Most Viewed Player Profiles Of 2017: No. 6 Thomas Wilhite - Dec 23, 2017
- All-State Games: Pitchers Analysis - Dec 11, 2017
- Most Viewed Player Profiles In November - Dec 1, 2017
- Updated Class Of 2019 Rankings Released - Nov 27, 2017
- All-State Games: Stats Breakdown - Nov 6, 2017
- Prospect Q&A: RHP Thomas Wilhite - Oct 3, 2017
- Most Viewed Profiles In September - Oct 2, 2017
- The Buzz: Louisiana State Lands Top Recruits - Sep 29, 2017
- Louisiana Commitment Watch - Sep 25, 2017
- Most Viewed Player Profiles In August - Sep 1, 2017
- Updated 2019 Overall Rankings Released - Aug 24, 2017
- Future Games Recap: Video Analysis (Louisiana) - Aug 16, 2017
- Class Of 2019 Rankings Updated - Aug 10, 2017
- Future Games Recap: Pitchers (Louisiana) - Aug 7, 2017
- On The Hunt: Future Games Day 2 - Aug 4, 2017
- PBR Future Games: Louisiana Day 2 Recap - Aug 3, 2017
- On the Hunt: Old Big 8 Region Preview - Jul 31, 2017
- The Hotlist: Top Pitchers Coming To The Future Games - Jul 19, 2017
- Future Games Spotlight: RHP Thomas Wilhite - Jul 18, 2017
- ArkLatex Tournament: Game Recaps - Jul 2, 2017
- ArkLaTex Tournament: Louisiana Knights Preview - Jun 28, 2017
- LA Weekend Notebook: Marucci Classic & Knights Scout Day - Jun 5, 2017
- Player Spotlight: 2019 Thomas Wilhite - Mar 29, 2017
- On the Hunt: Uncommitted Arms and Athletes in the 2019 class (Plus one 2020) - Jan 13, 2017
- Pitcher Showcase & Analysis: Post-Event Recap - Jan 13, 2017
- Pitcher Showcase And Analysis: Stats & Instant Reaction - Jan 9, 2017
The Prep Baseball Report Louisiana scouting staff recently sat down with the PBR Future Games standout to discuss his recent commitment to LSU. Below is a transcript of our question and answer session:
PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process?
Wilhite: I really didn't think about it much at first, I just wanted to find the college that best suited me and my needs.
PBR: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?
Wilhite: No not necessarily, I just wanted to find a school that would best develop my skill-set.
PBR: Where did the college you chose first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?
Wilhite: Coach Cain came to watch me play with my high school team early in the summer. My relationship with Coach Cain was definitely one of the stronger interactions during my process and as we talked more I realized Baton Rouge could be a home for me.
PBR: Who is the best player you have faced in your state, and why?
Wilhite: Toms Biggs is definitely one of the better hitters I have faced through my high school career. His ability to us his power to both sides of the field, makes him pretty tough to pitch too.
PBR: At what point in your career did you realize you were an elite player and became serious about taking your game to the next level?
Wilhite: I don't believe I have reached elite status. But I'm working to develop my craft to be able to reach that point. I became serious about being able to play at the next level around my freshman year.
PBR: What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?
Wilhite: I was looking for a place that felt like home, put me in the best position to make that step past collegiate baseball, and of course being able to surround myself with people that not only wanted me to succeed in pitching but succeed in life and push me to be the best man I can be .
PBR: What is your best attribute as a baseball player and how does that transfer onto the field for your team?
Wilhite: I believe my competitiveness, on and off the field, helps push those around me too reach our max abilities.
PBR: What part of your game needs the biggest improvement, why, and what will you do to improve it?
Wilhite: I would say there is work to be done, and improvement to be made in every facet of my game, not just one specific area.
PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?
Wilhite: I'd say if you are willing to put the work and want to create opportunities for yourself from a recruiting stand point, getting involved with PBR and playing with the Louisiana Knights have played big roles in helping me get to the point in my career that I find myself now.
PBR: What do you do in the offseason to keep yourself in baseball shape and prepare for the upcoming season?
Wilhite: I like to lift, focusing on my core, and getting as much get as agility work in as I can. I also go to a weighted ball program by Drive Line that really helps with arm care.
PBR: What do you like most about the college you committed to and what were the key factors in making your decision?
Wilhite: It’s hard to choose one specific thing, because there are so many things to love with LSU. But, the respect and admiration I have for Coach Dunn’s is willingness and knowledge to help my career progress going forward, was certainly a big reason.
PBR: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?
Wilhite: At the end of the summer my final four schools were Southern Cal, Houston, Louisiana Tech, and LSU.
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Scouting Report
8/2/17 Strong 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame, durable build with thick, powerful lower half. Medium, clean arm stroke into high-3/4 release with quick arm speed, and little effort. Fluid, athletic delivery with level shoulders, in-line direction, lands square and finishes athletic. Cemented himself as one of the top arms in Louisiana’s 2019 class, showing quality stuff at the nation’s premier underclass event. Tossed three innings over two days at the Future Games, sitting 87-91 mph with downward tilt on the fastball, showing solid control of the pitch. Presently, the change-up is his best secondary pitch, showing fastball arm speed, deception, and depth to the offering that flashes hard, late fading action at 78-82 mph. Primarily uses a curveball, when spinning the baseball that shows 11/5 shape, fastball arm speed, and depth at 72-75 mph. However, he flashed a slider with sharpness, tighter spin and late break at 77-80 mph.
Summer/2017 Strong 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame, athletic build, strong lower half, projects well. Short, in-line arm action into high-3/4 release with quick arm speed, solid balance, and regular effort. Smooth rhythm, level shoulders, in-line direction, lands square and finishes athletic. Fastball sits 85-89 mph with solid tilt and command in the zone. Breaking ball shows 11/5 shape, solid spin, occasional sharp break and fastball arm speed at 70-72 mph. Also shows advanced feel for a changeup with sinking action that bites hard in on right-handed hitters, and fastball arm speed at 78-80 mph.
1/7/17 Strong 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame, athletic build, strong lower half, projects well. Short arm action into high-3/4 release with quick arm speed, solid balance, and regular effort. Smooth rhythm, level shoulders, in-line direction, lands square and finishes athletic. Fastball sat 84-86 mph with solid tilt and command in the zone. Breaking ball showed 11/5 shape, tight spin, sharp break and fastball arm speed at 70-72 mph. Also showed a changeup with sinking action and fastball arm speed at 78-80.