Outfielder Eli White is tearing it up in Spring Training, and it’s starting to get really interesting for the Atlanta Braves.
In Thursday night’s 1-1 tie against the Marlins, White was the one who broke the scoreboard, launching a solo shot to right-center.
Honestly, with how he’s been swinging, his first home run and first RBI of the spring felt inevitable.
White’s Spring Training Dominance
Let’s put some numbers behind this heater he’s on. Through 13 plate appearances over seven games, White is slashing a ridiculous .545/.615/.815. That’s right—he’s getting on base over half the time.
He has six hits, one walk, and even a hit-by-pitch for good measure. And suppose you think this is just a random hot streak, history suggests otherwise.
White has consistently been a Spring Training standout, posting a career .299 average and a .893 OPS during this time of year, with nine homers and 23 RBIs across multiple springs.
The Battle for an Outfield Spot
But here’s the real question: can he turn this into a roster spot? Last year, White was more of a defensive late-game option for the Braves, but when he did get at-bats, he made them count.
He finished 2024, hitting .282 with a .769 OPS and a 113 OPS+. Those are solid numbers for a guy who didn’t see regular playing time. And now, here he is, carrying that momentum right into March.
The challenge? The outfield picture is crowded. With Ronald Acuña Jr. still rehabbing from his ACL tear, the Braves are looking at Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz as his temporary replacements.
Kelenic is locked in with a .956 OPS and a guaranteed MLB contract. De La Cruz? He’s on a non-guaranteed deal, which puts him at risk in theory, but he’s also hitting .357 with an .857 OPS.
White is having the better spring, but De La Cruz isn’t exactly making it easy for the Braves to let him go.
Braves Bench Role Could Be the Answer
However, there’s another route for White—securing a bench role. Originally, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman had Luke Williams pegged for that spot, but Williams is struggling, going just 1-for-15 in Spring Training.
If White keeps up this tear and Williams keeps scuffling, it’s not hard to see the Braves making the switch.
Bottom line? White is giving Atlanta every reason to keep him around. The question now is whether they’ll find room for him.
