The 2017 First-Year Player Draft has come and gone, at least the anticipation and speculation part of it. Right now there is no more mystery regarding team selections, although we still might try to figure out the drafting strategy used by our favorite team.

I certainly pay close attention to the first 10 rounds in the draft where a team’s success in the draft is often measured. However, the Dodgers have shown in the past that the success of a draft may well also come from the ensuing rounds, perhaps even down to the very last pick in the draft. Mike Piazza will always be a reminder of that.

An old saying we quite often use is, “What goes around, comes around.” It was with considerable interest that I saw Logan White’s name come around again on the Draft Tracker as the Dodgers 39th selection in this year’s draft. This is Logan White Jr., son of Logan White, former Dodgers Vice-president of Amateur Scouting.

Logan White Jr.
(Video capture courtesy of rkyoshoo7)

The senior White was a MLB draftee in 1984 having been selected by the Seattle Mariners out of Western New Mexico University in Silver City, New Mexico. He had a brief three year minor league career in the Mariners farm system as a right-handed pitcher.

The junior White was drafted by the Dodgers out of Mountain Pointe High School which is a secondary school located in the community of Ahwatukee in the southern part of Phoenix, Arizona. Dodger fans might recall that former Dodger farm hand Joey Curletta was selected by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2012 Amateur Draft out of Mountain Pointe High School.

He was drafted as a catcher although his on-field resume also lists him as a third baseman. In 20 games in 2017 he hit .346 with an OBP of .478 with 12 runs scored and 16 runs batted in.

The 6’0”/175-lb White bats left but throws right. His scouting report indicates he has considerable potential to grow both physically and with his baseball skills which he has already established as a firm foundation.

“Slender young build, lots of room to grow and get stronger. Left handed hitter, hits from a wide base with a leg lift load and short upper body driven swing, line drive swing plane, gets extension through contact out front, pull to mid field approach, has quick hands now and should keep improving offensively as he gets stronger. Compact arm action behind the plate, gets on top of his throws and makes accurate throws, has good footwork throwing and blocking, 2.10 best pop time. Very good student.”

There is more to the Dodger connection with Logan White than just his father who had selected former Dodger catcher Russell Martin in the 17th round of the 2002 draft.

Two years later, upon his scouting director’s offer, Martin decided to go to Phoenix during the winter to work out. That probably was a better location for winter baseball type work that Montreal.

During the winter he stayed with the White’s and a strong, lasting bond developed between Martin and Logan White. That is, Logan White Jr., who was seven at the time while Martin was 23.

“Russ and I go back to almost to when I was in kindergarten,” young Logan said from Phoenix. “Russ was the first big guy who took me under his wing.”

As a youngster White began playing baseball, as we might expect, and as a 10-year-old be became a member of the Ahwatukee All-Stars in Phoenix. He could pitch and play third base but gave up both to become a catcher to be like Russell Martin. He not only donned the catching gear, he wore Russell Martins No. 55 on his back.

“I started wearing Russell’s number when I started catching,” young Logan said. “Russell showed me basics, like the primary stance and the secondary catching stance.”

“Not many kids were new to teams, they knew Russell and I were friends,” said young No. 55.

There is still more to Logan White’s number story.

The Whites were and still are close friends of Dallas Green’s family in Tucson, traveling and visiting back and forth. Logan became close friends with Christina Green who was a very unique little girl. She was born on 9/11 when the family was living in West Grove, Pennsylvania and was one of the 50 “Faces of Hope” representing children from 50 states born on Sept. 11, 2001.

Christina, among other things, played Little League Baseball. It was not uncommon when the families were visiting back and forth for adults and children to play backyard ball.

Then on January 8, 2011 Christina and her family attended a “Congress on Your Corner” sponsored by U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. The news soon blared out that a lone gunman has shot Giffords and 18 others, six fatally. Christina Green was one of the six.

Christina Taylor Green

The White family was devastated by the news and as a family attended Christina’s funeral.

“I couldn’t say a word when I saw John,” young Logan said. “I just gave him a big hug.”

In the spring, the Little League season in Phoenix began on April 1 with Logan White playing for the Phoenix Surf Dawgs.

The Whites were at the park when the president of the league approached them perplexed over the number their son had chosen for the season. He questioned: “This can’t be right … is it? Your son didn’t put pick No. 55. He marked down 12.”

Logan’s dad sought out his son who had always worn No. 55 thinking he had put the number in the incorrect column or had made a mistake in some other manner. “Did you put down No. 12? Do you want that number?” the father asked.

His son became quiet and a little tear began to trickle down his cheek as he answered: “Well, Dad, that was Christina’s number.”

As a senior in high school, Logan White Jr. still wears No. 12.