By John Knebels
The first highlight is in, and it was a beauty.
On his first at bat as a professional baseball player in the low-level Florida Complex League Thursday afternoon, Lonnie White Jr. slammed a double off the left-center field wall.
Minutes later, in his second trip to the dish, White roped another double . . . again off the left-center field wall.
This is going to be fun.
Those who have enjoyed a front-row seat watching the 2021 Malvern Prep graduate quickly ascend from a super-shy, multiple-sport high school athlete to a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization can’t help but mention White’s humility.
It started from the jump; the early vignettes are consistent.
In the fall of 2017, a sports reporter approached White and asked him about his sterling performance in a Friars’ football victory.
Then a freshman, White talked about the team’s offensive line, defensive line, quarterbacking, and running game.
Months later, in the spring of 2018, the same reporter asked White about his home run and three RBI in a Friars’ baseball victory.
White talked about the team’s defense and pitching.
Lonnie White Jr. doubles on his first at bat for the Pittsburgh Pirates (video courtesy of proud grandfather Robert Caffro)
So, in late July, when White decided to forego a dual athletic scholarship offer at Penn State University and accept an invitation to play for the Pirates, White succinctly summarized his sentiments about commencing his professional baseball career that technically began two weeks earlier when he was selected in the second round as the 64th pick of Major League Baseball’s 2021 draft.
True to form, the humble 18-year-old acknowledged the stress that preceded his decision. He said he loved the game of baseball and was following his heart.
Batter up.
“When Lonnie started high school, he was extremely shy,” said White’s mother and most ardent fan, Reggie White. “He is a very private guy and still is. But to see him come out of his shell more and more each year was incredible.”
Reggie credited Malvern Prep’s “teachers, coaches, and community” for “building his communication skills, and making him come out of his shell.”
“I loved watching him build friendships with his classmates and teammates,” she added. “The transformation was amazing. He is definitely more confident today and talking to reporters has become a lot easier for him.”
Malvern Prep senior Lonnie White Jr. makes impressive 30-yard TD in 35-0 victory against Salesianum School (DE) PSD video by Kathy Leister.
Few peers know White better than classmates/teammates Fran Oschell and Dominic Chieffalo.
A baseball and basketball player – White also played hoops at Malvern – Oschell joined just about everyone else as he excitedly anticipated course of action.
“Honestly, I didn’t know what his decision would be,” said Oschell, who will play baseball at Duke University next year. “He had two great options, so I’m sure it was a difficult one to make. I knew he had aspirations to play professionally, so I’m really happy that he was able to make that happen.”
Playing baseball with White for four years at Malvern and one season of travel ball was more than enough to convince Oschell of White’s phenomenal baseball prowess.
“Lonnie is extremely talented, and he works hard on top of his talent,” said Oschell. “His work ethic and drive to get better is a big part of what makes him so fun to play with and what makes him such a gifted athlete.
“I’m excited for Lonnie. It is an amazing opportunity for him, and I know he will make the most out of it. He’s a great guy and a great player, so I think he will have a very successful career.”
Chieffalo, who also graduated from Malvern Prep this year after a sterling baseball career and will next play at Scranton University, immediately recognized his friend’s abundance of talent half a life ago.
“First, Lonnie has always been gifted physically,” said Chieffalo. “I remember playing against him when I was 10 and he was very skilled. I overlooked the rec specs and saw he had tools. We became teammates at 13.
In 2018, then freshman Lonnie White #20 was bombarded by teammates after hitting a homerun that helped clinch Malvern's Inter-Ac Title. (photo: courtesy Reggie White)
“A story that I think describes his athletic ability is this. We were beating a team by many runs and Lonnie came up to bat lefty and hit a ball to the fence. That is not something that you see often.
“Then there is the mental approach. Being his teammate for over five years, I have seen the way he has handled success and adversity. He doesn’t beat himself up and has a strong will and attitude. With all the attention he gets, he remains grounded. He is special that way. Especially this season with so many scouts coming to our games and so much buzz around him, he stayed true to himself.”
Like Oschell, Chieffalo knew that White really couldn’t go wrong whether he played sports at Penn State or took the offer to become a Pirate.
“Whatever his decision was going to be, it was going to be the right one for him,” said Chieffalo. “Both options provided their positives and negatives. As a close friend I want the best for him, and I think he made the right choice.
“The minor league lifestyle at such a young age is definitely very difficult, but I know he will work hard and be very successful.”
Chieffalo and White also shared something else.
“We are both big Pittsburgh Steelers fans,” he said, “so it was cool to see him go to the Pirates.”
An outstanding basketball player, White jammed a bucket during the 2019 Diane Mosco Foundation Shootout vs. Neumann-Goretti (PSD photo by Kathy Leister)
White’s baseball coach, Freddy Hilliard, admires White’s intangibles even more than his athletic ability.
“For me, his biggest impact is that kids see this unique and incredible athlete like Lonnie, and yet he doesn’t walk around with a sense of entitlement or arrogance at all,” said Hilliard. “Instead, he just wants to be one of the guys and help his team win and get better every day.
“Kids admire him because usually when a kid is as gifted as he is, they don’t act like that and aren’t as coachable and team-first oriented. Lonnie has a boatload of fans and supporters at Malvern because of how humble and selfless he is. It’s really easy to push your other players when the best player is working his tail off and doesn’t expect preferential treatment.”
Malvern Prep athletic director Jim Stewart, who labeled White a “generational talent,” agrees.
“Others see how hard Lonnie worked to maximize his talent,” said Stewart. “That’s what we want for every scholar athlete – to maximize their gifts and talents, which ultimately makes others better.”
As White’s career continues to flourish, reporters might have to talk about White through the words of others.
“He will never tell you his accomplishments,” said Reggie. “He is very humble. You would have to really pry for him to tell you.”
No need. Actions have spoken much louder than words – both on the field, and off.
(Contact john Knebels at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)
Malvern Prep's Lonnie White Jr. (2020 PSD Photo by Patty Morgan).